Gun Reynolds replacement Broncos want but 'can't afford'

Brisbane is starting to look at life after Adam Reynolds as the champion halfback nears the end of his NRL career.

The 2014 premiership winner is contracted for 2025 but is currently long odds to sign another deal in the NRL beyond that.

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It means the Broncos need a new No.7 - and at the moment there is no answer staring the Red Hill club in the face.

Reynolds told Wide Wide of Sports during pre-season he thought Ezra Mam had the ability to transition into a quality halfback and potentially replace him in the jersey.

But coach Kevin Walters didn't put Mam in the No.7 jumper once in 2024, despite having the perfect opportunity when Reynolds spent nearly three months sidelined by injury.

Legendary five-eighth turned Broncos director Darren Lockyer admits Mam doesn't strike him as a natural halfback.

"Not in the short term," Lockyer told Wide World of Sports' QLDER.

"I think Ezra is very much a player that plays what's in front of him, he's not an organising player.

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"I think (Panthers playmaker) Jarome Luai this year, when he had to go to seven he was really impressive. But he's got a few more years' experience under his belt (than Mam).

"I think Ezra maybe in the long term is an option, but in the short term no."

The inability of Mam to step up leaves Brisbane with a glaring issue heading into 2025.

There's been ongoing speculation the club will try to bring Sam Walker back to Queensland.

Walker, 22, is in the midst of contract negotiations with the Roosters but rumours suggest he will want as much as $1.5 million a season in the coming years. Kalyn Ponga is currently the NRL's highest earner and pockets about $1.4m a year from Newcastle.

Walker is the most promising young halfback in the league and is considered next in line to Daly Cherry-Evans' Queensland jumper.

And while the Broncos would no doubt love to bring him home, Lockyer concedes the club won't be able to.

"Sam's a quality player, and I feel like the Roosters without Sam can't win the premiership," Lockyer said.

"He's getting better with every year and every game of experience.

"The salary cap probably restricts you from bringing someone like that to the club at the moment, because he's demanding big money.

"He's already got a decent offer on the table from the Roosters, even though it's well below what he's asking.

"The Broncos at the moment would not be in the market, could not afford that type of player."

Reynolds' exit at the end of next year won't free up a lot of money given he accepted a significant pay cut to re-sign with the Broncos for 2025.

And with guns like Reece Walsh and Payne Haas already on big dollars, the club will find it tough to splash the cash on bringing another superstar into the fold any time soon.

Lockyer says the Reynolds succession plan will likely fall to a young gun who will still only be 19 next year.

"The spine long term, I think there's a couple of players there... there's a young kid called Coby Black coming through, he's been pretty impressive in Q Cup," Lockyer said.

"He will have another year under his belt while Adam's there, and he's learning from Adam.

"I think there's options there, but you don't replace Adam overnight. It will take time."