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Parker: The player each top eight team can't lose
Sam Kosack • August 28th, 2025 5:01 pm
Brisbane Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds has suffered a setback on the hamstring injury he suffered in Round 23, expected to rule him out of the Broncos’ first final.
Reynolds was initially named in the Broncos’ extended squad to play the Cowboys this round, pushing for an early return.
The Broncos lost Reynolds and five-eighth Ezra Mam in the same game, along with winger Selwyn Cobbo, however, have won their two games since with Ben Hunt and Billy Walters in the halves, keeping themselves in the hunt for a top four finish and premiership.
On SENQ Breakfast, NRL great Corey Parker identified Reece Walsh as the key to the Broncos’ premiership push, revealing the player he thinks each top eight side cannot afford to lose if they are to win the competition in 2025.
Broncos - Reece Walsh
“It is Reece with his energy, it's Reece with his backup play, it's Reece with his brilliance, so I'm gonna say with Reece,” Parker said.
I don't think we've seen the best of the Broncos this year, Pat Welsh added.
“It's exciting that if they can get them up and get them going and I know we've got some key outs, including Ezra, but I think that they are chances even if they finish outside the top 4.”
Raiders - Ethan Strange
“For me, when I look at the Raiders and what they've produced this year, you go to the likes of Kaeo Weekes… but it's Ethan Strange,” Parker confirmed.
“You take Ethan Strange out of that football side, they are completely different.
“He's unorthodox, he's unpredictable, and he's such a strong ball runner.”
Storm - Harry Grant
“Harry Grant is the man.
“You've seen how they can cope without Jahrome Hughes, and he's a wonderful player, Munster's a wonderful player… but you take Harry Grant out of that football side, he's been exceptional, so he's my man for the Storm.”
Bulldogs - Matt Burton
“A lot of people would think it's Stephen Crichton, he's a wonderful leader and a great player, but, if you go back to the game a number of weeks ago they were under all sorts of pressure, there was one bloke that continually got them out of their own end, and that was Matt Burton.
“His massive kicking game, he's got a wonderful running game.
“For me, if the Bulldogs are to continue to move forward in the semi-finals, Matt Burton has to be playing.”
Warriors - Wayde Egan
“We know that they've lost Metcalf and he was the key. He would have been in everyone's conversation.
“You take Wayde Egan out of that football side, completely different. They start to become very predictable.
“With Wayde Egan there, he can play with his smarts and creativity around the ruck.”
Sharks - Blayke Brailey
“Nicho’s obviously pivotal. Also, you go to Will Kennedy… he’s so crucial at the back but I think the running game this season that we’ve seen from Blayke Brailey has certainly taken their game to a whole new level.
“It seemed to have happened just after the Origin period. He’s been in a rich vein of form. If he can continue, that’ll be a big hope.”
Panthers - Nathan Cleary
“It's Cleary.
“He's an obvious one for most people. There's a couple of other people in that same boat (like) if you took Yeo out of that side, they are very, very different but Cleary's the man there.”
Roosters - Sam Walker
“The Roosters for mine, is Sam Walker.
“He's a great kicker, as in, kicks a goal, he’s a wonderful short game kicker but it’s his unpredictability and the fact that he is always at you.
“Any sort of opportunity he can provide creativity for his team, he will, whether it's left side, right side, swings, left, goes right, whatever it might be, his return from injury has been quite simply remarkable.
“When he plays, they're a completely different looking side.”
