NRL news 2023: Brisbane Broncos ace Reece Walsh’s financial value after Payne Haas mega-deal; Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer comment

One major question lingering over the Broncos after their $1.2 million-a-year re-signing of superstar prop Payne Haas is whether they’ve got the money in their salary cap to retain young guns Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam.

And going by the remarks of rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns and Broncos director Darren Lockyer, the NRL powerhouse faces a mighty battle to keep the brilliant youngsters.

Mam is contracted until the end of 2024 and Walsh the end of 2025, and it’s undeniable they have earned significant financial upgrades on the back of their phenomenal 2023 campaigns.

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“Reece Walsh is more than a million-dollar player … You’re talking $1.5 (million),” Johns said on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth.

“I hope these two never leave Brisbane.”

When quizzed on whether Walsh, who’s on $400,000 a year, was worth $1 million a year, Lockyer said the Queensland State of Origin fullback was on a path to becoming a million-dollar man.

“What he’s done in a short period of time, without a doubt,” Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER.

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“If he keeps playing the way he’s playing and he keeps contributing to a team and success keeps following that contribution, then there’s no doubt that someone like Reece Walsh is going to be worth $1 million a year and more.

“We talk about how big Adam Reynolds has been for the Broncos — Reece has been equally as good at turning them into an attacking threat, the way they are.”

Lockyer believes there are “a lot of players out there” who are underpaid and many others who are overpaid.

“It’s just the way the system works,” added the former Broncos captain.

“If you’re an individual like Reece and you’ve done what he’s done — he’s been amazing, played Origin this year — his value’s going up. Now, it might not be right now, but at the time when he comes to the re-negotiation, that’s when all his hard work gets rewarded. That’s the way it works.

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“For every contract you sign, if someone has a fantastic year … you can’t always expect to go back to the club and say, ‘I’m worth more, pay me more’. I think it’s a two-way street from my perspective.

“You’re putting faith in some young juniors that are coming through a system and they’re learning their trade and they’re contributing more to the team — their time will come where the reward will happen financially.”

The Broncos announced last week that Haas had re-signed with the club until the end of 2026.

The NSW Blues and Kangaroos front-rower knocked back the pursuits of all other NRL clubs and a host of rugby union franchises.

The Broncos are placed second on the ladder ahead of a clash with the Raiders in Canberra on Saturday, but they will replace the Panthers in top spot if they beat Ricky Stuart’s men.

The Panthers suffered a double blow in Penrith on Thursday night, losing to the Eels 32-18 and potentially losing representative five-eighth Jarome Luai to a season-ending shoulder dislocation.

 

Reference

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