Questions have emerged about whether the Brisbane Broncos can afford to pay Reece Walsh the reported $6 million he’ll get when he signs a lucrative contract extension with the club. Now that the Broncos’ disastrous season is officially over, the club will look to finalise a new deal for their young fullback before he hits the open market on November 1.

Walsh reportedly agreed to stay at the Broncos way back in March, but the new contract is yet to be finalised. Some have suggested Walsh has held off putting pen to paper in the hope his value would go up even more in 2024, after a breakout year last season.

But 2024 has been nothing short of a disaster for Walsh and the Broncos, and it might hit him in the hip pocket. Walsh has only managed to play 14 games for Brisbane this season due to various injuries, and wasn’t as dominant for Queensland in State of Origin as he was in 2023.

He was knocked out in the opening minutes of Game 1 and never looked like his normal self for the rest of the series. He’s missed a multitude of games for the Broncos due to injuries, but even when on the park he hasn’t managed to spark his teammates the way he did on their run to the grand final last year.

With the Broncos missing out on playing finals footy for the third time in the last four years, questions are now being asked about what it means for Walsh’s new deal. Some have suggested his disappointing year may have diminished his value somewhat, and many don’t believe the Broncos can afford to pay him the reported $1.2 million per season he’s thought to be asking.