Reece is off contract end of 2022 so the R&R team should be off their asses right now discussing a 12 month extension as minimum to keep the vultures away... but let's assume the mediocrity of brisbane's back office continues and have a look at the contenders shall we...
- Broncos - Fullback spot is wide open, we have cash, he doesn't have to move and his mates in Piakura, Coates and Dearden are all here (and should also be priority signings for the broncos)
- Bulldogs - zero chance... have possible fullbacks in JAC, Allan & Cotric taking up $1.5M... they can't spend anymore cash on outside backs
- Cowboys - low chance... they have Val and Hammer... hell if they do go for Walsh then we should go after Hammer
- Raiders - CNK on the books so Walsh would be an improvement... but it's a hard location to attract Australian players unless they're looking for an opportunity, which is not going to be the case for Walsh
- Sharks - Will probably have a sniff. Moylan likely gone (too much money and injury prone... also hearing they want to move him into 6) & Kennedy looks nothing special. Have heard Tracey might be lined up as fullback this year and they also used Metcalf in their first trial who looked pretty good. I think sharks have a serious rebuild on their hands though and I wouldn't really think it is an attractive place to go to start your career
- Titans - Mal has jumped in and claimed the Emerald product is as Gold Coast as a sleeve tattoo and fake tits, but I can't see how they can compete with us cash wise. Brimson is due a major upgrade and would have to be in their minds as the long term fullback. Petey B will definitely flag titans as a contender for the outrage clicks, but we can and should outbid them.
- Sea Eagles - Turbo... zero chance
- Storm - Paps... zero chance
- Warriors - Have a few juniors coming through who will compete for the fullback spot with RTS moving on, but is NZ really all that attractive to a qld kid that can pick whichever club he wants to play at
- Knights - Ponga... zero chance (they could suggest moving KP to 6, but I just don't think he's a half). They might have a sniff
- Eels - Gutho... low chance unless Gutho's form starts falling off a cliff. They have a huge junior catchment so I'd expect them to find a new fullback from within.
- Panthers - zero chance... Pretty sure Crichton or Staines are flagged as their next fullback
- Rabbitohs - Latrell will still be under contract when Walsh comes off contract so seems unlikely... but they could have a sniff I guess
- Dragons - They'll have some cash, but I think it will be awhile before dragons start looking like a competitive team again... they will have a sniff, but they're team is shit and Bhunt is taking up a shit ton of cap until the end of 2023
- Roosters - Have Teddy who will be getting a little older by 2023 (30yr when Walsh is off contract)... he would be under contract, but medical retirement and an amateur golfing career at the Bondi local golf club can never be off the cards down there. Will probably get dragged in by Petey B for outrage clicks
- Tigers - They can't even poach Sydney players so I think they'll struggle to get a qld product with the NRL at his feet. Will be identified as a possible location even though they went all out for Laurie
So in summary the likely bidders are
Broncos
Titans (for outrage)
Cowboys (maybe)
Warriors
Knights
Dragons
Tigers
Roosters (because they always have to have the next shiny thing)
Broncos should be in discussion to upgrade Reece's 2022 contract (he's likely going to be the starting FB anyway) and extend it into 2023. By the end of next year he'll likely have been our starting fullback for a year (after serving a 1yr apprenticeship in ISC this year) and we will have a decent idea if he's on the path to being elite, at which point we can use our huge amount of cap space to lock down a long term spine player with a big juicy 4-5yr deal