Rewind time: Walsh to quit Warriors and rejoin Broncos next season

Rugby league young gun Reece Walsh is set to quit the New Zealand Warriors ahead of their grand return across the Tasman in the 2023 NRL season and rejoin his boyhood club the Brisbane Broncos to play fullback.

Walsh, who famously declared he was “100% going to New Zealand next year” in May, is set to walk out on the club at the end of the season. The Sporting Base understands the Warrior allowed the 19-year-old to re-open discussions with the Broncos after they scored the signature of wantaway Raider Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad today.

The Southport young gun will take Brisbane’s number one jumper next year.

Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins were also around the deal, The Sporting Base was hearing, but unfinished business at Redhill has already sealed the deal for Walsh regarding his next destination.

The 19-year-old currently has 12 months left on his Warriors deal and an option in his favour for 2024 which will clearly not be activated. Walsh joined the Warriors midway through 2021 after clamouring to be released from his Broncos contract early. He has since played 30 games for the New Zealand club that has been stuck in Australia thanks to COVID-19 protocols.

Despite reports otherwise, Walsh will play out the rest of the season with the Warriors.

With Walsh taking the fullback jersey next season, Selwyn Cobbo—who re-signed with the club just last week—is expected to move into the centres or even stay out on the wing. Corey Oates will stay in the number two jumper and Kotoni Staggs will continue to play centre for the Queensland juggernaut next season.

Herbie Farnworth may leave to join the Dolphins, or stay in the centres.

Reports out of Redhill at the moment are that Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds will remain the club’s halves combo. The playmaking pair will combine with Walsh as a dynamic trio that should give Brisbane an incredible attacking flair next year.

Related: Three more: Cook may be star to break Rabbitohs signing rule

On the other side of the Tasman, the Warriors will slot Nicoll-Klokstad into Walsh’s old spot. The 26-year-old wriggled out of the final year of his agreement with the Raiders so that he could return to his family in New Zealand and play the majority of the season in black-and-white on home turf—the club should return to normalcy in 2023.

The Warriors are expected to sign Panthers assistant Andrew Webster as head coach soon.

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