Phil Rothfield believes the money being thrown around in relation to Payne Haas could mean the Broncos will have a problem retaining Reece Walsh who could command $1.6 million a year.
With props dominating the transfer landscape, Rothfield also made the bold claim, explaining Broncos fullback Walsh could be worth more than one and a half million per season.
He believes if props are earning north of a million dollars, the 21-year-old superstar could eclipse their contracts by a big margain.
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Walsh will hit the open market come November 1 and will undoubtedly field offers well over his current $450,000-per-season salary if the Broncos don’t extend him first.
“It is out of control with the front-rowers at the moment,” Rothfield said on The Big Sports Breakfast.
“It certainly changed the way clubs are structuring their salary caps.
“The Broncos are under enormous cap pressure. They have got Ezra Mam on $240,000. They have got young Walsh out the back who is an absolute superstar on $450,000.”
Raiders legend Laurie Daley questioned what the Broncos will have to fork out to keep Walsh if they give Haas $1.2 million a year.
“If you are going to pay Payne Haas $1.2 million, what is Walsh worth?” Daley asked.
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Rothfield believes Walsh could command north of one and a half million annually due to what he offers off the pitch as well as on it.
Haas is an excellent player, but he is a quiet family man and Walsh certainly offers far more in terms of marketing and sponsorships.
“If Haas is worth $1.2 million, this young kid Walsh is worth $1.6 million,” Rothfield said.
“I know it is unheard of money, but he is so exciting. It is the marketability of him.
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“It is getting a little bit out of control. The Broncos are in a position like Penrith now.”
However, Daley believes the Broncos need to give Walsh whatever he wants to keep him at the club long-term.
“I tell you what with Reece Walsh you are paying him whatever you can to keep him because he has got everything going for him that kid,” Daley said.
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However, while Daley thinks that Haas is worth north of a million a season, he warned the Broncos could get into trouble with their salary cap and used the Titans as an example of how clubs can get unbalanced in terms of their books.
“I think Haas is worth more than a million bucks, but again it come back to if you are paying players like David Fifita and Tino more than a million dollars, that’s two forwards,” Daley explained.
“I think you can get your salary cap out of whack by paying a front rower and a back rower that money. You could get yourself into trouble there.”
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