Brisbane No.6 Ezra Mam says keeping the current Broncos squad together is a priority to achieve their ultimate goal of winning a premiership and his wish is on the cusp of being granted.
Hooker Billy Walters is set to become the next key player in the Brisbane spine to re-sign after skipper and halfback Adam Reynolds inked a one-year extension on Monday until the end of 2025.
Walters had a breakout season in 2023 at No.9 to help lead the Broncos to the grand final. The off-contract 30-year-old confirmed he was in talks with the club and that a new deal, likely for two years, was imminent.
"I’m sure it will get done in the next couple of weeks. I am pretty keen to stay," Walters said.
"I know the club is pretty keen to keep me, so there is no rush.
"I am focusing on footy and playing good football and repaying the faith of the club."
The Walters signing would mean the Broncos' key starting players in the spine would all be together until at least the end of 2025.
Earlier this month the 21-year-old Mam re-signed until the end of 2029. Fullback Reece Walsh is on the books until the end of 2025 but said in an interview in Los Angeles that he intends to get a long-term extension locked away.
Mam was just relieved to get his own deal done and hoped the team stayed together.
"I think having that (contract) finished now it is a big weight off my shoulders," Mam said.
"All of us boys are encouraging (Walsh) to stay and hopefully he does. It is his choice and his life.
"We are all bonding pretty good here and are close mates so we’d like everyone to stay and take this journey together.
"Footy is a business in itself … but hopefully we can keep the team we have and build on it in the coming years."
Brisbane have been training at the LA Rams' base and head to Las Vegas later this week ahead of their clash with the Sydney Roosters.
The playing surface at Allegiant Stadium is five metres narrower than the usual NRL field and Mam said the strong Broncos pack, led by Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, would be integral to success.
"We have come up with a new game plan," Mam said.
"With the smaller space we are going to have to go through them and we have the forward pack to do that."
Mam will forever be remembered for scoring three dazzling tries in last year’s 26-24 grand final loss to Penrith, but he is not hanging his hat on that.
"I am just starting. This is my third season now so I am looking to improve in all areas of my game. No-one is going to be a perfect player," he said.
"I think the whole team has room for improvement."
