Billy Walters says he must become a genuine threat out of dummy-half and emulate the best hookers in the game if he is to hold down the starting number nine jersey for Brisbane's next NRL season.
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The Broncos' spine combination had several strong games as a unit last season but the personnel varied due to injuries and form.
The 28-year-old Walters featured in 23 games where he played in the halves, came off the bench and started at hooker. Brisbane won seven in a row when he was the starting No.9, but that guarantees nothing next year.
Highly-rated Cory Paix played 12 games last season and missed a chunk of it with a MCL injury. The Broncos have also signed Queensland under 19s halfback Blake Mozer until the end of 2025.
"We have also got Tyson Smoothy on board this year. He's played for the Storm and they don't give out their jerseys easily," Walters said.
"It is always good to have competition for the number nine jersey. We all know no-one has got their hands on that yet."
To secure that position, and to lift Brisbane into the top eight, Walters said he had "a lot of improvement" to do.
"I need to be more of a threat out of nine," Walters said.
"The best nines in the game like Harry Grant, Damien Cook and Api Koroisau they all run and have good deception around the ruck.
"I need to start doing that a little bit more and work on my combinations with the forwards. I didn't get to do a pre-season with them last year. I did a whole pre-season in the halves so that is a big asset this year."
Walters has former Manly dual-premiership winning hooker Matt Ballin, now a Broncos assistant coach, to assist him and said he was "a big asset".
The other positive is that captain and halfback Adam Reynolds, five-eighth Ezra Mam and other spine contenders are already back for pre-season.
"It is a real big chance to build our combinations," Walters said.
"We didn't really lock down a spine last season and I think everyone else around Reyno' needs to support him a lot better ... so we can be firing round one."
Walters said he was "stoked" to get his future sorted out after signing a two-year extension last month to keep him at the club until the end of 2024.
Reece Walsh had a stomach bug and missed Tuesday's training so Selwyn Cobbo, who played mostly wing last season, slotted in at fullback where he impressed.
Australian Associated Press
