Billy Walters has confirmed he is in contract negotiations with the Brisbane Broncos and says he does not know whether he will still be at Red Hill when the deal is done. The hooker, who is due back on the field in the coming weeks after an ACL injury, said the club has already put an offer in front of him, but the talks are still unresolved.

The timing matters because Walters is off-contract at the end of 2026 and Brisbane are already balancing several moving parts in the same position. He said the Broncos want to keep him and that he would love to stay, but also pointed to salary cap pressure and the number of young hookers coming through, a mix that could leave him squeezed out even if both sides want a deal.

Walters, who grew up loving the Broncos, said he is trying not to let the process weigh on him. “They’ve offered a contract. We’re still talking and I’m trying not to let it worry me,” he said, adding that managers are there to handle the hard part. He also said, “I’d love to stay at the Broncos, but with the salary cap and the amount of young hookers that are coming through, we’ve got to make sure it works for everyone.”

Brisbane’s roster makes the discussion more complicated. Cory Paix was re-signed earlier this year, Blake Mozer is tied up until 2027 and Cameron Bukowski is also at the club, while Ben Hunt wants to play on at Brisbane. The Broncos have also signed Jonah Pezet from the Parramatta Eels and are in talks with Tom Duffy over an extension, part of a broader halfback plan that means Adam Reynolds’ retirement will not simply open one obvious spot.

That leaves Walters in the middle of a classic rugby league squeeze: a player the club says it wants to keep, a contract that has not been settled and a roster that is already crowded in key areas. He said he will “definitely put my hand up” to stay as long as he can, but unless Brisbane finds room under the cap and a role that fits the rest of the squad, one of the club’s more experienced hookers could end up on the outside looking in.