Reece Walsh’s $6 million move that could force Broncos teammates in to…

Kevin Walters has admitted Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs will probably have to take pay cuts in order to remain at the Brisbane Broncos, with Reece Walsh on the cusp of signing the biggest deal in club history. Cobbo and Staggs are both free agents as of November 1, while Walsh is expected to sign a new deal worth a reported $6 million.

Gun centres Cobbo and Staggs are both central to the Broncos’ future plans to challenge regularly for NRL titles, but they might be forced to settle for less money than they can get on the open market. On Wednesday, Walters said he had no intention of standing by and watching either of the duo move to another club. But he was well aware of the reality of the situation.

Discussing the situation last month, Walsh said he was “one hundred per cent” going to re-sign. “The Broncos are a massive part of me being here (in Origin) and I love the club,” he said. “I want to be here for a long time and all that (contract) stuff will get sorted. I love the club and I love the people involved at the club and what they stand for. They have amazing values … and we’ve got some decent (players) too and that plays a factor.”

But Walsh’s new deal could have an unwanted domino effect on the likes of Cobbo and Staggs. “A lesser club unlike a Broncos might dangle seven figures at [Cobbo] and say we want you to be our No.1 (fullback),” Broncos great Corey Parker said last month. “(Playing fullback has) highlighted him again in the shop… I don’t see how they could keep those players (Cobbo and Staggs) for the money that someone like a Cobbo would be offered on the open market because he can play fullback.”