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Opinion
If last night’s NRL trial was meant to be an audition for the Brisbane number 6 jersey and a slot in the halves alongside Adam Reynolds, then it’s safe to say that nobody passed.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has bet the farm on Reynolds being the man to bring his side up the ladder in 2022 and challenged his prospective partners to stake their claim during Saturday night’s 26-all draw with the Gold Coast Titans, in which each got a 40-minute crack.
Four names are in the frame for five-eighth gig come the visit of the Rabbitohs to Suncorp in Round 1, with 2021 alumni Albert Kelly and Tyson Gamble, joined by the coach’s son, Billy Walters and rookie Ezra Mam.
“That’ll be done over the next two weeks,” he said of the final decision. “We have a trial next week up in Mackay against the Cowboys.
“Tonight we are splitting the halves, and they are all getting 40 minutes each. They can show us what they have got tonight and then next week we will move on from there and see who will partner Adam.
“At this stage it’s still an open race. All the different candidates have got different qualities that they bring.”
Speaking before the game, Walters revealed that Reynolds himself would play a role in choosing his halves partner.
Kevin Walters has a big job on his hands to rebuild the Broncos. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“We will sit down after our second trial. I’ll sit down with Adam and a few other guys and we will make the selection there,” he said.
“I’m expecting the individuals to put their hand up over the next few weeks, have a crack and go after that position.”
Billy Walters took the 6 jersey to start alongside Albert Kelly in the 7 – Walters laid on a try for Selywn Cobbo and Kelly was his characteristic rocks and diamonds, but neither made a startling claim for the long-term role.
Tyson Gamble and Ezra Mam took over for the second half, with Mam showing some exciting flashes but Gamble looking much like he always has in first grade: not quite good enough.
Herein lies the problem for Walters and Reynolds: all have fairly serious flaws that seem unlikely to be resolved by this or any other trial.
Tyson Gamble has had plenty of chances to cement an NRL position and has proven consistently unable to do so. Since debuting in 2018, he’s managed a single try and lost 11 of his 16 games. Surely, Super League is his next port of call – if anyone would have him.
Billy Walters was discarded from the Storm system – they rarely give up good players – and then spent time unable to decide if he was a hooker or a five-eighth, as well as struggling with injuries. If he can play consistently he might be a different proposition but there’s been little evidence of that happening so far.
Ezra Mam is a huge talent at just 19. He was named Queensland Cup rookie of the year last season, but it is worth mentioning that he is very much that – a rookie.
Mam played just 11 times for Souths Logan in 2021, and while he managed an astounding 13 tries, that is a very small sample size to judge whether someone is worth starting at a packed Suncorp in Round 1 against last year’s Grand Finalists. It’s possible that Mam is the long-term answer to the question, but it would be a huge call to go to him right away.
That leaves Albert Kelly. He’s at the opposite end of the experience scale, being the other side of 30 and with close to 200 first-grade appearances split between the NRL and Super League.
He’s unpredictable and inconsistent, but might be able to add a spark and allow Reynolds to steer the team around.
Crucially, this Broncos team now has a full backline that might be worth passing the ball to, with Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs looking strong in the trial and the exciting Herbie Farnworth to return on the other side.
Kelly might be able to distribute, challenge the line and not let the side down in defence. He might also try miracle plays, run too much and get trampled over, all of which he has done in the past.
Adam Reynolds is a great player, but he’s not a miracle worker. He needs a partner to go with him, and Kevin Walters is no closer to knowing who that might be.