Broncos ‘tried to bully’ teen star Sam Walker but it backfired spectacularly

In the 12 month nightmare of the Broncos recruitment crisis, bungling Sam Walker’s future is quickly emerging as the second biggest mistake made.

The Broncos’ 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 club’s 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 club’s second biggest mistake.

According to reports, the Broncos put their faith in Tom Dearden to be the club’s next long-term halfback — 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 Broncos’ 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 “bully” the talented playmaker into re-signing with the club during the 2019 negotiations.

“Unfortunately, for the great club that is the Brisbane Broncos, it’s true,” Walker told SEN.

“That came from Anthony Seibold, that they didn’t want Ben and Kylie (Sam’s parents) to be there.

“I found that really strange, for a club like the Broncos. He was 16.

“You probably have to ask Siebold, I’ve got my thoughts on it.

“My first thought was that they were trying to pressure him into signing, that’s what I felt when I heard it.

“I 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.

“It was really sad, I go for the Broncos, I love the club, and it’s sad to see what they’re going through at the moment.

“They could have had Sam as a 10-to-15-year player.”