With Reece Walsh and the Brisbane Broncos failing to make the NRL finals just one year after coming agonisingly close to winning the premiership in 2023, the post-mortem has begun about how it all went so wrong. The Broncos appeared to have the trophy in their grasp in last year’s grand final, until Nathan Cleary masterminded an incredible comeback to break their hearts.

Many predicted Kevin Walters’ side would use the heartbreak to fuel them in 2024, and the Broncos were being tipped by some to win the premiership in the pre-season. But it’s gone completely the other way this year and Walters’ side have missed the finals for the third time in four seasons.

The overwhelming theory from around the NRL world is the players have gotten too big for their boots and started reading their own press. Former Wallaby Greg Martin ripped into the ‘poncy rock star’ players on Triple M radio and suggested they’re more interested in their social media standing than their performances on-field.

To be fair, the Broncos have been hampered by injuries in 2024, with big guns Walsh, Adam Reynolds, Payne Haas and Ezra Mam all spending significant time on the sidelines. But there’s a growing theory that the hype and popularity the players have received in the last two years has inflated their egos and made them believe they’re better than what they are.

Reece Walsh’s increasing popularity becoming a problem?

Walsh and his teammates have become so popular in Brisbane (particularly with the younger generation of fan) that the Broncos have had to hire security guards to stop crowds getting out of control during training sessions. Thousands of fans line the sideline to get a glimpse of their favourite players, and Walsh is constantly inundated with requests for selfies (particularly with young female fans).

The Courier Mail revealed on Thursday that Walsh’s popularity has gotten so out of control that he returned to his Dodge Ram ute after one training session to find a young woman sitting in the tray with flowers and a gift for him. The 22-year-old even took to social media earlier this year to ask fans to be more respectful when asking for a selfie.

The same report by the Courier Mail claims Walsh was inundated at least 20 messages from young women when he touched down in Darwn last year for a Broncos game against Parramatta, with fans desperate to meet up with him. And teammates Carrigan and Mam reportedly get similar treatment.

Walsh is tipped to become the most marketable player in NRL history, and has been described as the “Justin Bieber of rugby league”. He now has more followers on Instagram than the official Broncos account, with a new generation of fan captivated by his work on and off the field.

Broncos boss makes telling admission after finals failure

CEO Dave Donaghy told the Courier Mail the club is finding it challenging dealing with the extra hype and attention. “The onus is on us as a club and the onus is on me to provide the environment that enables our players and our staff to thrive, not just survive,” he said.

“It’s a big footy club, we understand that. We understand that it means a lot to Brisbane and people ride the wave of emotion of wins and losses. Our members do as much as anyone. We get that. The mental skills side is such an important part of our game. We’ll look really closely around how we continue to invest in that space.”

Storm legend Cameron Smith said the Broncos haven’t been able to deal with extra pressure of having a target on their backs, while Matty Johns has likened it to the hype created in Newcastle in 1995. The Knights enjoyed a breakout year as he and brother Andrew broke onto the scene, but fell off a cliff in 1996 because they got too full of themselves and didn’t work hard enough.

They managed to right the ship and won the club’s first premiership in 1997. Only time will tell if the Broncos follow a similar path and get back on track in 2025.