The Broncos are reported to have attempted to тАЬbullyтАЭ teen star Sam Walker into signing a contract. It backfired spectacularly.
In the 12 month nightmare of the Broncos recruitment crisis, bungling Sam WalkerтАЩs future is quickly emerging as the second biggest mistake made.
The BroncosтАЩ recruitment and retention committee have rebounded in recent weeks with Kotoni Staggs, Jordan Riki and Adam Reynolds all signing long term deals in Brisbane.
However, those big wins have come after 12 months of bleeding.
David Fifita moved to the Titans – the clubтАЩs worts mistake in years – while Xavier Coates recently decided to jump ship to the Storm and rising star Reece Walsh slipped through their fingers to join the Warriors.
Behind Fifita, it is quickly becoming clear the failure to lock down Walker has been the clubтАЩs second biggest mistake.
According to reports, the Broncos put their faith in Tom Dearden to be the clubтАЩs next long-term halfback тАФ at the expense of Walker.
Now Walker is on fire for the Roosters and the Broncos reportedly let Dearden walk to the Cowboys without putting up a fight.
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The BroncosтАЩ mistake with Walker has been further exposed this week by claims from Chris Walker, the uncle of the Roosters talent, that the club tried to bully Walker into signing a contract extension with the club.
Chris Walker told SEN Radio this week that he blames former coach Anthony Seibold for failing to entice his nephew of staying in Brisbane.
Walker was on a development deal with the Broncos, but agreed to join the Roosters for the start of the 2020 season.
Walker says the Broncos tried to тАЬbullyтАЭ the talented playmaker into re-signing with the club during the 2019 negotiations.
тАЬUnfortunately, for the great club that is the Brisbane Broncos, itтАЩs true,тАЭ Walker told SEN.
тАЬThat came from Anthony Seibold, that they didnтАЩt want Ben and Kylie (SamтАЩs parents) to be there.
тАЬI found that really strange, for a club like the Broncos. He was 16.
тАЬYou probably have to ask Siebold, IтАЩve got my thoughts on it.
тАЬMy first thought was that they were trying to pressure him into signing, thatтАЩs what I felt when I heard it.
тАЬI felt they were trying to bully him into signing and not let his dad, who has a huge influence on his career, to not have a say when it mattered.
тАЬIt was really sad, I go for the Broncos, I love the club, and itтАЩs sad to see what theyтАЩre going through at the moment.
тАЬThey could have had Sam as a 10-to-15-year player.тАЭ
