Missing piece in 2025 GF photo drives Bronco Billy
Joel Gould |
A photo in the foyer of Brisbane headquarters is motivation for favourite son Billy Walters to seek a contract extension with the club.
The 32-year-old utility is in talks to extend his stay at the club where his illustrious father Kevin Walters won five titles.
Billy has played three games for Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup since returning from an ACL rupture, after an earlier reconstruction on the same left knee in 2020.
While he wants to play a part in a late season Broncos revival, off-contract Walters has no intention of retiring after missing last year’s grand final win. He tore the ACL in the qualifying final victory over Canberra.
Walters was part of the premiership celebrations and was recognised by captain Adam Reynolds for his contribution when asked to lift the trophy with him on stage in the post match presentation.
“I love playing rugby league, so I want to keep playing, and I’ve always loved the Broncos,” Walters said.
“I’ve been to a few other clubs and the feeling you get when you pull on a Broncos jersey and you run out at Suncorp in front of 40,000 people, it’s like no other.
“We’ve got a big picture of when we won the comp last year of us all lifting the trophy, and I’m the only one that’s not wearing playing kit. I just want to get another photo like that, but me in playing kit. So they’re big motivating factors.”
Walters said a new Brisbane contract should be ready for him to sign “hopefully soon”.
“I’m pretty sure the club are pretty keen to keep me and I obviously want to stay here,” he said.
“I haven’t really thought too much about that, just making sure that they see that I’ve done all the right things for rehab and getting back to where I was.”
Through the dark days of his knee rehabilitation, Walters turned to Broncos supplementary list teenager Braithen Scott for support.
“It was pretty lucky for me, and not so lucky for Braithen, that he did his knee the same week as me,” Walters said. “We’ve just done everything together – that’s been such a huge help for me mentally.
“Having someone there with you the whole time just gets you through those days.
“I might be feeling a bit down, but he kind of picks me up, and I tried to do the same thing for him whenever he was feeling down.
“I’ve got to thank him a lot. I just wanted to get back playing for the Broncos. It’s the best feeling in the world … and trying to get back to that grand final and winning one in in playing kit.”
AAP