Broncos director Darren Lockyer has conceded the club’s hands are tied in the search for a halfback to succeed Adam Reynolds after breaking the bank to retain Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Payne Haas.

Superstar fullback Walsh last week agreed in principle to a four-year extension worth $5 million, adding his blockbuster contract to a pile of big money deals at the club.

The Broncos’ millionaires club now includes Walsh on $1.25 million-a-season, alongside Haas who is on $1.1m-a-season for the next two years, while Patrick Carrigan ($800k) and Mam ($750k) also command significant salary cap space for the length of their deals. Both are on board until 2028.

While there was at one stage talk that Mam would fill the shoes of Reynolds once he retires, that no longer seems to be the plan, with the livewire struggling to step up as a primary playmaker when his skipper has been injured.

Speaking on Wide World of Sports QLDER this week, Lockyer said the club would need to find its future No.7 from within rather than going to market for another big money star such as Sam Walker or Braydon Trindall.

“You’ve always got to have one eye on that spine, because they’re so important. We talk about consistency, if you’ve got continuity in your spine you’ll get consistency in your performances,” Lockyer said.

“Reece, done, Ezra (extended), and Adam’s (Reynolds) got another year, so there becomes a bit of focus on who will be the 7 after Adam and who will be the 9 after Billy (Walters). And I think given the enormity of Reece’s deal and Ezra and Payne, you know, it’s not … you’re limited to how much money you’ve got out there for your 7 and 9 now.

“We’ll just have to see who’s out there and who we can develop.”

“A young 7 coming through who’s not going to demand the big money straight away is probably where it’s heading but as we know, the No.7 is so important and we’ve got to keep one eye on who’s earmarked to go there beyond Adam Reynolds and who’s there (at hooker) to go beyond Billy Walters.”

That speculation has started after the skilful half played a breakout final against the Cowboys and partly due to the fact that he intends to test his value on the open market and becomes a free agent at the perfect time to replace Reynolds, who is unlikely to play beyond next season.

The Trindall talk was put to Lockyer, who said the 25-year-old’s skyrocketing value would likely put him out of reach.

“He’s finished the year strong,” Lockyer said.

“I’d be surprised if the Sharks let him go. But again, I think the Broncs are pretty keen to develop from within, so we’ll just see where that lands.”