The imminent signing of Reece Walsh by Brisbane seems to have come about suddenly, but the fact that the club can once again host their rising star is the result of work that has been going on for some time.
Walsh, 19, will rejoin the club he left last year after the New Zealand Warriors allowed him a two-year contract release.
Walsh is one of the most sought after talents in the game and the Broncos were able to avoid the fierce interest of the city’s incoming rivals, the Dolphins, to get the big signing.
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The fact that the Broncos have the salary cap space to fit Walsh is the result of some tough calls made over the past two years.
Jamayne Isaako, once seen as the club’s long-term winger, was released to join the Gold Coast Titans mid-season, while hooker Jake Turpin has been told he can go there at any time before his contract expires at the end of the season. These exits alone are expected to free up about $ 500,000 of maximum space.
It comes after Kevin Walters previously made some tough calls to release people like Tevita Pangai Jr., Matt Lodge and Anthony Milford in his first year as the Broncos coach.
Brisbane will also lose Brenko Lee (Dolphins) and Rhys Kennedy (Hull KR, Super League) at the end of the season, while a large number of players remain out of contract, such as Ryan James, Albert Kelly, Te Maire Martin, David Mead, Corey Oates, Keenan Palasia and Billy Walters.
Foxsports.com.au he understands that James and Mead will retire at the end of the season, while Martin will have a chance to stay on a reduced price deal. Others are likely to make sense, even with the recent contract extensions awarded to stars Selwyn Cobbo, Harbie Farnworth and Patrick Carrigan, the club is in a strong position to welcome Walsh.
According to a Courier mail report, the contract with the Walsh Broncos will not break the bank and is a relatively minor upgrade from his current $ 400,000-per-season contract with the Warriors.
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The signing represents a significant coup for Walters and Broncos management, including football and performance director Ben Ikin, and CEO Dave Donaghy.
Speaking shortly after his appointment earlier this year, Ikin explained that the Broncos ’list strategy would be based on youth development rather than marquee signings.
“Among the top 30 and the development list, we have a basic group of players here with whom we can build our future. We just want to hit the market in an extraordinary situation,” Ikin said.
This “extraordinary” situation materialized with Walsh wanting to return to Australia and the Broncos were perfectly prepared to attack.