Warriors officials are hopeful boom fullback Reece Walsh will be officially released to join them before the end of this week after leaving the Broncos camp in Sydney to return home to Brisbane.
The Warriors have signed Walsh as the long-term replacement for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is leaving for rugby union at the end of the season and the club wants the 18-year-old to train alongside the player he is replacing.
Paul Turner and Hayze Perham have been mentioned as players Brisbane would be interested in securing in exchange for Walsh if they were to grant the talented teenager an immediate release but no deal has been done with either player.
The Broncos relocated to Sydney last week following a COVID-19 outbreak in Brisbane and will remain in the NSW capital until after Thursday night’s match against South Sydney at Stadium Australia.
However, Walsh has returned to Brisbane and it is understood he farewelled teammates in anticipation of joining the Warriors, although Broncos officials say he remains with the club at this stage.
NRL Round-Up - Round 4
The Warriors set their sights on Walsh almost from the moment Tuivasa-Sheck advised the club in January that he was going to sign with New Zealand Rugby.
Despite losing one of the Telstra Premiership's best players, the Warriors have signed a player with similar potential to Tuivasa-Sheck when he was at the same age.
Tuivasa-Sheck played a role in helping to sign his replacement by meeting with Walsh at a Central Coast café to sing the praises of the club he captains.
Star forward Tohu Harris was also at the meeting.
"We just answered questions that he had and asked about him really," Harris said on Tuesday. "It wasn’t a big sell or anything but he showed a real willingness to learn and to get better.
"You could see that just through the conversation that we had and how he holds himself. He is an impressive young talent and it would be great to have him here as a part of the club.
"He is certainly a talented player. He is young and has a lot of energy but the talent is certainly there and having him around the group would be obviously a bonus."
If Brisbane release Walsh now that he has settled his long-term future by signing a three-year deal with the Auckland-based club, it would enable him to train alongside Tuivasa-Sheck in preparation for taking over the No.1 jersey next season.
Walsh is on a development contract with the Broncos so can't play NRL until after round 10 but he would be included in the Warriors top 30 squad and is likely to be considered for a bench spot in coming weeks.
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Broncos fullback Jamayne Isaako was facing pressure from Walsh to retain the No.1 jersey this season and while a move to the Warriors is imminent, Isaako was unable to shed much light on whether he had been released from the Brisbane squad other than to say he’s left the team camp in Sydney.
"Reece is a good young kid and really skilful player," Isaako said on Tuesday.
"I think he has gone home but I don’t really know too much about what’s going on with him and his contract stuff at the moment. I think it’s for everyone upstairs to worry about."
