Warriors fullback Reece Walsh is set to return to Brisbane next season in a major boost for the Broncos.
The young star, who is under contract at the Warriors until the end of 2024, has informed the club that for personal reasons, he would not be able to relocate to Auckland when the team returns permanently to its home base.
Warriors CEO Cameron George said the club was disappointed the Maroons squad member would not be part of the team in 2023.
“There has been a major change in Reece’s personal circumstances in the past two months which have impacted on his ability to move to Auckland with the club next season,” he said.
“We’re working through his situation and have given him permission, with some conditions, to look at options in Brisbane. It’s not the way either Reece or the club had wanted this to play out but we respect the issues he has.”
Walsh has made 30 appearances for the Warriors since his debut last year but he missed Sunday’s homecoming win over the Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium after failing a COVID test.
Reece Walsh (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
CNK exits Raiders
Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been granted a release to return to the Warriors, signing a three-year deal with the club where he made his NRL debut.
The 26-year-old Kiwi international’s shift to Auckland for personal reasons offsets the departure of rising star Reece Walsh.
“He brings undoubted qualities as one of the best fullbacks in the game as well as so much off the field as a wonderful young man,” Warriors CEO Cameron George said.
“He’s so excited about coming back to the Vodafone Warriors, being home and being closer to his family.”
Nicoll-Klokstad made his NRL debut with the Warriors in 2017. He went on to score seven tries in seven appearances in his rookie season but he didn’t add to his tally in 2018 before leaving to link up with the Raiders in 2019.
His first season with the Raiders was a breakout year in which he scored 11 tries and appeared in the grand final, making a game-high 237 metres in his side’s 8-14 loss to the Sydney Roosters.
Canberra have Xavier Savage establishing himself in the No.1 jersey with the young gun now set to be their long-term fullback.
Raiders CEO Don Furner said the club was indebted to CNK for his efforts over the past five seasons.
“Charnze arrived in Canberra in 2019 looking for an opportunity to further his NRL career and took that opportunity with both hands,” Furner said.
“He’s been a very good for the club both on and off the field and we wish him all the best for the rest of this season before he returns home to New Zealand to be closer to his family next year.”
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Smith won’t be sighted until 2023
Melbourne centre Reimis Smith will miss the remainder of the 2022 season after aggrevating the pectoral injury he sustained against St George Illawarra in round nine.
Smith joined the Storm from Canterbury last year and immediately became a regular in their best 17.
He has since re-signed until the end of 2024 and had been on track to return from injury before the finals series.
“I was working extremely hard and looking forward to getting back on the field with the guys in the next few weeks but unfortunately we have hit a bit of a hurdle which has set me back,” Smith said.
“I will do everything that I can to get back and will be here to support the team for the rest of this year.
“It has been hard watching from the sidelines but I have had great support from the club and the fans.”
In Smith’s absence, Marion Seve has become a fixture of the starting line-up but teams have begun to exploit the inexperience of the Storm’s outside backline, especially now that winger Xavier Coates is also injured.
In last week’s game alone, Manly scored six of their seven tries through their outside backs and the remaining try through edge back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu.
The Storm will need to tighten their edge defence for Thursday night’s game against Cronulla or risk suffering a similar fate as between them the Sharks’ first-choice wingers Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo have scored 23 tries so far this season.
With a loss, the Storm will slip into third position on the ladder with the same number of competition points as the fourth-placed Sharks.
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Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
I think the Warriors feel for the well being of a one year old girl more than they feel the need to enforce a playing contract. Seriously … do you honestly feel you are more entitled as a fan to Reece Walsh as a football player than his one year old daughter being raised by a teenage single mother is entitled to his presence as a father?
baha
Guest
I don't think you know how contract works
EastOfDivide
Guest
Bad luck with all of that, after he signed a contract with the Bronco’s.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
He is still only 19 (turns 20 next week). I think his ceiling is Kaylan Ponga, his floor is Matt Dufty. But he is much more likely to hit his ceiling than floor.
Tony
Roar Guru
They could swap Isaako :happy:
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
It’s being reported both by News Limited and channel 9. Apparently the issue stems from the Dolphins recruitment manager defecting from the Warriors to the Dolphins. He’s Matthew Lodge’s father-in-law, and obviously the Lodge contract ended up as a complete disaster for the Warriors, so it’s probably not a surprise that there is bad blood. Snd they can’t realisticallypay him $60k. Because he will just reject that deal and keep playing for the warriors, daughter or not. I think it’s also under the minimum NRL wage anyway. Apparently, part of the deal might be a player swap, which is something the Dolphins just can’t do.
Muzz
Guest
I don't rate Walsh. Too many technical flaws in his game.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am sceptical on all that reporting. But if true I guess the Broncs can pay him what they like, minimum wage if they wanted. That seems a bizarre move from Walsh. If the Warriors are the ones demanding it Walsh should only agree to a short contract.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Yeah, Walters explained that at length last year.
Mutley
Roar Rookie
Not a terrible problem to have. Two class players that are talented enough to be moved around or rotated.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
It’s been reported extensively: https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/bad-blood-dolphins-reportedly-furious-over-detail-in-reece-walsh-snub/news-story/25dae63b12e59085a07681ff7b0faa1a
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
The impression I get is that CNK is definitely not one to shirk responsibility or seek to shift blame on to others. Character and commitment wise, he’s the kind of player any coach would love to have in the team.
Rellum
Roar Guru
It is easy to fit them in now. It is two years from now it gets hard. Maybe Walsh moves to the halves
Rellum
Roar Guru
Where is this reported? They are in a relationship with Redcliffe now. It doesn’t make any sense for them to say only the Broncs. Maybe Walsh is saying that but I would be surprised the Broncs are
Rellum
Roar Guru
The Broncs did want him
Cat Brown
Guest
Now someone telling the truth No I don't want to stay and help the team that gave me a chance. I'm off. See ya. I'm going to a team that didn't want me till I showed what I can do. Just tell the truth. Warriors are losers and I don't want to be a part of it
Cat Brown
Guest
Not really a poor post just an honest one. All Warriors players sacraficed a lot to keep the NRL going. No Kevvie didn't want t him until the Warriors Gave him a chance and he took it. Now he has the upper hand. Feel for the Warriors not someone who signed a contract
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Firstly - He made those comments 6 weeks ago, which was close to the time the relationship breakdown was occurring. So it not necessarily the case that he was planning to defect at the time. Secondly - He (and his club) are making the correct moral choice in prioritising the welfare of a one year old child over a rugby league playing contract. Thirdly - This is not comparable to the Warriors team relocating to Queensland for 2 years. If they didn’t do that, they would have been out of a job. Additionally, it’s hard to see that the club would have tried to enforce the contracts of any players not willing to relocate. Fourth - Never criticise a football player for giving the polite and professional response that Walsh gave when asked about his commitment to his club. No one wants to hear a professional sportsman tell the truth in that situation - “I am a professional sportsman. I have almost no emotional connection to this club or this locality. I am not even from the same country as this team. I didn’t know any of these guys before I signed a contract here. I signed here because I wasn’t getting enough game time or money at the Broncos. They are nice people but this club is a basket case that just sacked yet another coach and I can’t see how they will ever be a successful club in the foreseeable future. My agent is permanently on the lookout for a higher paying contract at a better club, because once again, I am a professional sportsman and this is a business even though we pretend it’s not.” No one wants to hear that.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
CNK seems a bit injury prone- I hope I’m wrong and he has a long fruitful career over the Ditch
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Yeah very interesting- I think Kevie n Benny are playing High Stakes poker here.I hope the Broncs don’t need to borrow Uncle Nicks Sally Cap Accountant