Brisbane Broncos contract news: Kevin Walters confident of keeping NRL premiership window open long-term | Sporting News Australia (2024)

Brisbane have re-established themselves as a force in the NRL, pushing themselves into the top-four heading into the finals series and head coach Kevin Walters is daring to dream of premiership glory.

But with their new-found success comes the impossible task of keeping their star-studded roster together long-term, with the likes of Penrith and Melbourne going through similar issues in the past.

In the midst of their two-straight titles, the powerhouse Panthers have been forced to part ways with a number of marquee names including Api Koroisau, Viliame Kikau and Matt Burton.

Down at the Storm, the likes of Brandon Smith and the Bromwich brothers all moved on at the end of 2022, while premiership heroes Josh Addo-Carr and Dale Finucane are also plying their trade at rival clubs.

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For the resurgent Broncos, two of their most consistent performers - Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth - will both head to the Dolphins next year, while Keenan Palasia has signed with the Titans on a two-year deal.

With a host of names off-contract at the end of 2024 and 2025, Walters and company have some tough decision to make around their salary cap if they are any hope of keeping their premiership window open long-term.

The Sporting Newstakes a deep dive into Brisbane's contract situation below.

Who do Brisbane Broncos need to re-sign?

Speaking on a recent episode ofNRL 360,Walters admitted the Broncos were faced with a challenging two-year period, with some of their biggest names needing extensions on monetary upgrades.

“That’s part of our evolving team and that’s not my space to work in," he said.

"My job here is to coach them and provide an environment where they can get better and they are enjoying their football and winning. We understand that side of it and that’s always been the case here at the Broncos.

"It’s a great problem to have, trying to hang onto all these players. We’ve had to let go of Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth – there’s some younger ones coming through and we understand they will require more on our salary cap.

"It’s about us managing that as best we can, but it is a battle. The great clubs over the years like the Storm and particularly the Panthers over the past couple of years, have faced big challenges to keep all of their players.

"The fact of the matter is, you simply can’t keep them all. You have to identify which ones you can keep and try do the very best you can."

There are a host of names Brisbane will be looking to extend beyond their current deals - but there are five absolute priorities if they are to remain a premiership force long-term.

Payne Haas (2024)

If we're talking about priorities, Payne Haas sits at the very top of the list and Brisbane will be doing everything in their power to lock in the NSW and Australian prop beyond the end of next season.

The 23-year-old is currently on $848,000, which is well below his market value, but is reportedly set to be tabled a long-term offer from the Broncos worth in excess of $1 million per year.

Haas will likely attract interest from the Bulldogs, Roosters, Storm and Dragons should he test the open market on November 1st, but his management have expressed his desire to remain in southeast Queensland.

The star enforcer has compiled another impressive season so far, averaging 189 run metres per game, as well as making 90 tackle breaks and producing 39 offloads in 18 appearances.

Ezra Mam (2024)

While other members of the Brisbane spine receive a lot of the praise - and perhaps rightfully so - the growth of young gun Ezra Mam has been extraordinary since making his debut last year.

The 20-year-old has grown into the five-eighth role and has been lighting up the competition with his speed and toughness, scoring 12 tries and registering eight try assists across 20 games this year.

Mam is an important re-signing for the Broncos, with the Dragons already expressing interest in the No.6, and they can't afford to lose him given the uncertainty surrounding halves partner Adam Reynolds and his future.

Brendan Piakura (2024)

Brisbane have already invested plenty of time and money into Brendan Piakura, and the young second-rower is finally starting to cement himself as a first grader this season.

With limited opportunities in 2021 and 2022, Piakura has become a more prominent fixture and produced a career-best performance against the Cowboys in Round 23.

The 21-year-old has made six linebreaks in just seven games for the Broncos, and his enormous potential could be highly attractive to rival clubs later this year.

Reece Walsh (2025)

He's the whiz kid who has turned into a superstar in a matter of months - but the Broncos need to ensure Reece Walsh spends the next decade in their colours.

The talent possessed by the 21-year-old was evident prior to his return to Red Hill, but his growth on and off the field has been one of the great stories of the season, with Walsh starring in Queensland's State of Origin series win.

Walters was quizzed about Walsh's season to date and admitted he has been surprised by the rapid rise.

“I saw his work last year at the Warriors and he’s quite a dynamic player, he’s very fast – but his football intelligence is one that really strikes me as being up there with the best," the coach said.

"Also his professionalism – this year, he has sacrificed a lot of things off-field to get to where he is, and that to me is a sign of a player that knows where he wants to go and knows how to get there.

"Billy Slater was great for him in the State of Origin period, but also Darius Boyd… he’s been a really good sounding board for him this year, particularly defensively because it’s a big job… Darius was one of the best in that space.

"He’s still only 21 and he’s only going to get better in the next few weeks and into next year and the years beyond."

Walsh comes off-contract at the end of 2025, giving the Broncos over 12 months to table a new deal - but there's no reason to wait as far as the speedster is concerned.

Kotoni Staggs (2025)

The other big name without a contract for 2026 and beyond is strike centre Kotoni Staggs, who has quietly produced his most consistent year in the top grade.

Staggs has played all 21 matches for Brisbane throughout their campaign, crossing for 11 tries and making 73 tackle breaks, as well as averaging 121 run metres per game.

With centre partner and English international Farnworth moving on, the club need to ensure Staggs is locked in beyond his current deal and should waste no time in getting that over the line.

When will Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds retire from NRL?

At this stage, Reynolds is contracted with the Broncos until at least the end of 2024 - but the classy halfback hasn't made any call on his future beyond that.

While his time at Red Hill has been stop-start in patches due to numerous injuries, the 33-year-old remains one of the best playmakers in the competition and is the key to Brisbane's potential success.

Given the club have another 18 months with Reynolds at the helm, it gives the decision-makers time to either find a suitable replacement or extend Reynolds for a further season.

Who will replace Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth for Broncos?

As previously mentioned, the departures of both Flegler and Farnworth to local rivals the Dolphins next season could leave a major hole in the Brisbane lineup.

But such is the improved football department at the Broncos, they have already put measures in place to shore up both the centre and front-row positions for next season and beyond.

Deine Mariner has already featured in three games this year, scoring three tries, and has been snapped up by the club until at least the end of 2027.

Similar to the situation at Penrith heading into last season with Matt Burton and Izack Tago, 20-year-old Mariner will be replacing a more experienced star but has all the tools to become an NRL standout.

In the forwards, the addition of Fletcher Baker and extension of Martin Taupau are astute pieces of business, while future captain Patrick Carrigan is already signed on until 2028.

Can the Brisbane Broncos win the NRL premiership?

Sitting in second place on the NRL ladder with three games and a bye remaining, Brisbane are well-placed to compete for a title in 2023 and the club are already putting things in place to keep that run going.

With an improving recruitment and retention philosophy, as well as the youth of their roster, the Broncos should be able to match it with the Panthers, Storm, Rabbitohs and Roosters for years to come.

But for this year, Walters knows there's still plenty of improvement required to lift the trophy in early-October.

“It’s so much better than the noise this time last year - the players are really enjoying the environment that we are playing in and providing," he said.

"It’s about keeping our feet on the ground certainly, but also enjoying the football that we’re playing and the results. We’re certainly well aware… we’ve still got three matches left to finish off the season and then we’re into a new season with the finals.

"For us, we’re trying to continue to build and get that confidence. We know we’re not the complete package just yet, we’ve still got some areas in our game that we really need to fine tune and get better.

“I believe our defence needs to get better… and just our concentration levels at different times. Whilst we’re very happy with the improvements we’ve made with our defence, I still feel we’ve got a little bit to go in that space.

"We’ve got good players in key positions that have good experience – particularly Adam Reynolds. Our forwards – Payne, Patty and Fleg – are getting us off to a great start in the middle and everyone is playing on the back of that."

Brisbane Broncos NRL off-contract list

*Fletcher Baker will join the club on a two-year deal in 2024.