Broncos legend Darren Lockyer says the Broncos lack a true identity and star fullback Reece Walsh needs to stop trying to set up miracle plays to get out of his form slump.
Walsh has been hot and cold since returning from injury earlier this month and he came up with a couple of costly errors in last week’s 22-20 loss to Parramatta, including a bomb that he allowed to bounce which led to a try and failing to be onside when the kick was put through for what could have been the match-winning try.
Speaking on Nine’s QLDer program, Lockyer said the Broncos’ playing style “changes from week to week”.
He said that the first-choice spine, which has finally been assembled late in the season of Walsh, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt at hooker, needs “to try build momentum and create space, create opportunity and play off the back of that”.
“That’s the blueprint – drop your forwards under, keep ploughing down the middle of the field, make them tackle and wait for the opportunities to come.”
Walsh needs to concentrate on making breaks rather than setting them up, according to Lockyer, who was the game’s best fullback at the Broncos early in his career before switching to five-eighth.
“I think it’s just simplifying your game,” Lockyer said.
“As a fullback you have got to think run first. You’ve got to have a focus on getting the ball on the full as much as you can, so positional play is important to get the ball on the full.
“Get back into the defensive line as quick as you can – when you’re coming out of trouble, just to simplify it, just follow your forwards. Just be ready for an offload or push up with your forwards.
“Then when you get into good ball, do the same thing early in the set but then come out to the edges later in the tackle count and think ‘run first’.
“Reece thinks he has to come up with that magic pass. Just run first and wait until it presents itself.”
“When you look at the try he set up for Billy Walters, if he’s hanging around the ruck area and he gets an offload that is what he’s capable of doing. So having a mindset around attacking the middle of the field first with your running game and then looking to spread it.”
Reece Walsh passes. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Many players facing uncertain future
South Sydney utility Siliva Havili is weighing up a move to England as one of several NRL veterans with uncertain futures beyond the end of this year.
With just three months to go in the NRL contracting year, almost 90 players are officially listed as off contract at the end of the season with deals expiring on October 31.
Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi is the highest profile of those, with Te Maire Martin, Will Kennedy, Adam Elliott and Tyson Frizell among other top-line talent still to be locked down.
Most clubs have already begun turning attention to their 2027 rosters, desperate to retain elite players before they become free agents on November 1.
But more immediately, 2026 is a concern for close to one-sixth of the NRL’s players.
Havili at this stage looks likely to leave the Rabbitohs, with Brandon Smith and Bronson Garlick having recently signed with the club as hooking utilities.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
AAP understands there has been some interest from Canterbury, while Parramatta loomed as one other option.
A Super League move is also not off the cards, with at least two clubs believed to be potential suitors.
“That’s definitely an option (to go to England). I’ve got options to play here too,” Havili, who has been in the NRL since 2014, told AAP.
“I still think I’ve got a lot of footy in me.
“I’m just happy to explore my options. I’ve got a young family to look after. I’m open to every option and everything out there.”
Now aged 32, Havili has been one of the few players at South Sydney not to have long-term injury issues this year after a few interrupted seasons.
The one-time Kiwis hooker also remains part of Tonga’s set up, and wants to contribute more there after finishing up.
“I do understand where I’m at with my career and what I can give,” Havili said.
“I also want to get into a bit of coaching too. So that’s something I’m looking forward to in that pathway within the Pacific Island.”
Elsewhere, Frizell has an option at Newcastle for 2026 and is expected to follow fellow veteran Dane Gagai into re-signing.
Adam Doueihi returns. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Elliott, meanwhile, is one of the bigger names still to have a deal done for next year.
The 30-year-old is believed to have options on the table in Sydney, with his wife Millie living in the city while playing with the Roosters in NRLW season.
The couple are expecting their first child in September, with Millie sitting out this NRLW season while pregnant.
Doueihi’s future is unresolved at the Tigers, with Penrith and St George Illawarra having distanced themselves from reported interest in the Lebanon star.
Cronulla continue to face a salary-cap squeeze headed into next season with fullback Kennedy one of the few members of a first-choice spine coming off contract.
The Sharks are so far unable to match the No.1’s asking price, with the situation threatening to drag into the off season.
The Dolphins also have big decisions to make in their pack, with Mark Nicholls and Josh Kerr still unsigned headed toward the end of the season.
Off contract players
BRISBANE: Corey Jensen, Cory Paix, Delouise Hoeter, Fletcher Baker, Jack Gosiewski, Jaiyden Hunt
The fact fellow hookers Ben Hunt and Billy Walters will still be there next year has made the situation difficult for Paix. Salary cap space is tight with regular front-liners Corey Jensen and Jack Gosiewski still unsigned.
CANBERRA: Albert Hopoate, Danny Levi, Josh Papali’i
The big question is how the Papali’i situation plays out. The veteran is rethinking a move to England, but fitting him in would require Canberra to clear cap space given they budgeted on 2025 being his last year.
CANTERBURY: Blake Taaffe, Blake Wilson, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Drew Hutchison, Jake Turpin.
The Bulldogs’ rebuild is nearing completion with a settled roster. Hutchison is likely to follow fellow half Toby Sexton out of the club, with a move to the Super League on his English passport.
CRONULLA: Billy Burns, Kade Dykes, Mawene Hiroti, Sam Stonestreet, Will Kennedy.
Salary cap space is tight and the Sharks are unlikely to meet Kennedy’s asking price. He is yet to sign elsewhere and it could drag into the off season. Hiroti and Stonestreet have impressed this year.
Felise Kaufusi. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
DOLPHINS: Felise Kaufusi, Harrison Graham, Josh Kerr, Kenny Bromwich, Mark Nicholls, Sean O’Sullivan.
The Dolphins have some big calls to make on their middle forwards, with Kerr and Nicholls both still unsigned. Already have Selwyn Cobbo and Morgan Knowles incoming.
GOLD COAST: Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Ryan Foran, Tom Weaver, Tony Francis
Decisions need to be made around the balance of their roster, even without any big names off contract. Until they make a call on their coach for 2026, re-signings are up in the air.
MANLY: Clayton Faulalo, Daly Cherry-Evans, Ethan Bullemor, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Siua Taukeiaho, Tommy Talau
Manly are confident Bullemor is close to taking up a four-year deal. The club have also made clear their desire to keep Taukeiaho for another year. Faulalo is nearing a two-year extension while talks have opened with Talau for a one-year contract.
MELBOURNE: Dean Ieremia, Grant Anderson, Kane Bradley, Marion Seve, Tui Kamikamica
Anderson will join Brisbane, while Kamikamica was also linked with the Broncos. Melbourne’s bigger challenges loom in 2026, with a litany of stars off contract.
NEWCASTLE: Adam Elliott, Jack Hetherington, Jackson Hastings, Jake Arthur, Tyson Frizell
Dane Gagai was recently extended and fellow veteran Frizell is expected to follow. Elliott has attracted serious interest from multiple of clubs, with a Sydney move a real option.
NORTH QUEENSLAND: Braidon Burns, Jordan McLean, Semi Valemai, Tom Duffy
Duffy is expected to depart after the Cowboys re-signed fellow half Jake Clifford. Veteran forward McLean is yet to make a call on his future.
PARRAMATTA: Joey Lussick, Wiremu Greig, Haze Dunster
Parramatta have already moved on several players, leaving very few off contract. Lussick would be unlikely to remain at the club, following Tallyn da Silva’s mid-season arrival and Ryley Smith’s rise at hooker.
PENRITH: Brad Schneider, Daine Laurie, Harrison Hassett, Luke Sommerton, Mavrik Geyer, Preston Riki, Soni Luke
Schneider must decide whether he wants to remain back up to Nathan Cleary or consider life elsewhere. That decision may have ramifications for others, with limited cap space.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA: Corey Allan, Michael Molo, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Sione Finau, Viliami Fifita, David Klemmer
The Dragons have a wealth of young forwards coming through, meaning the likes of Faitala-Mariner are expected to leave the club. Finau has toured Canberra, with the Dragons facing a battle to keep the young winger.
SOUTH SYDNEY: Cody Walker, Davvy Moale, Jacob Host, Jayden Sullivan, Shaq Mitchell, Siliva Havili
Walker and Moale’s deals are expected to be completed soon, while Sullivan is at this stage due to return to Wests Tigers. Havili could head to the Super League, but there has been interest from two other clubs.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS: Ethan Roberts, Tyler Moriarty, Zach Dockar-Clay
Have a reasonably settled roster, with Daly Cherry-Evans still expected to be announced as a big-name recruit.
WARRIORS: Bunty Afoa, Ed Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Tom Ale
Another settled roster as a club on the up. Martin had been linked to a Super League move earlier this year.
WESTS TIGERS: Adam Doueihi, Brent Naden, Charlie Staines, Josh Feledy, Justin Matamua, Taylan May
Doueihi looms as one of the biggest off-contract talents in the NRL, with the Tigers in a fight to keep him. May had made a case for an extension with his start to life at Concord, while Naden is expected to stay at the Tigers.
with AAP
