EXCLUSIVE: After grand final heartbreak, Billy Walters may have just weeks to play for new Broncos contract

Targeting a late-season comeback, Billy Walters plans to secure his future at the Broncos with a new deal and a second shot at experiencing premiership glory.

Walters missed last year's grand final triumph over the Storm after suffering a knee injury during the Broncos' qualifying final win against the Raiders.

Walters is now aiming for a return from the ACL injury in round 20, though he remains cautious about setting a definitive date.

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"The knee was a bit slow to begin with, to be honest," he told Wide World of Sports at the NRL season launch on Tuesday.

"I had a bit more meniscus damage than what they originally thought, but it hasn't pushed my return date back too much further, so still aiming for about round 20.

"I don't want to put a date on it or stress about that too much in case things happen, but hopefully the boys are flying, playing good footy — not too good though, so I can still find a way into the team.

"But hopefully I can just come back in and make my transition back into the team easy."

Walters is entering the final year of his contract with the Broncos.

Asked if he plans to stay at Red Hill, the 32-year-old confirmed he has no desire to test the open market.

"Yes, I'd love to stay at the Broncos," he said.

"I love being at the club, and it's such a good club. Payne [Haas] is leaving, it's probably opened up a little bit more salary cap relief ... we'll see what happens.

"I love the club, and I want to stay here for the rest of my career.

"As long as they take me, I'll be there."

However, with his return slated for the end of the season, Walters acknowledged the added pressure of playing for his future.

"I mean, hopefully (a new contract is) done before I come back," he said.

"But you know, sometimes these things take time, and they might want to see how I go when I come back from injury. It's kind of a weird one.

"I feel like I could lose my spot, not because I'm playing bad footy, but [because] other boys are given an opportunity with me being out. They might just go out there and kill it, and there might not be any room for me when I come back.

"All I can do is get my recovery right and my knee good to go, and make sure I'm strong, fit and playing good footy, and I'm sure it'll handle itself."

Watching the 2025 premiership victory from the sidelines has only made Walters more determined to experience a winning decider on the field.

"The club's been really good in trying to include me in everything that they possibly can. They gave me a [premiership] ring last week, which was pretty cool and tried to make me feel a part of it," he said.

"But there's nothing like actually playing in the grand final and getting it done yourself on the field, so I'm very motivated.

"It's been one of the biggest factors in pushing me in my recovery and making sure I'm doing everything right to make sure I get back — so you know that when the chance comes again, we can get back there, and I can do a job."

Before his injury, Walters served as the team's versatile utility, primarily playing at hooker while frequently filling in at five-eighth or as a ball-playing middle forward.

Probed on whether coach Michael Maguire has outlined his future role, Walters indicated that he expects to reprise his bench utility duties upon his return.

"I feel like I did a pretty good job last year coming off the bench, so it'll probably be the same or a similar role," he said.

"It'll be interesting to see how it all works out, actually, in the first couple of rounds with the new six-man bench and how that works with the utility on the bench.

"But I'll happily play anywhere. I mean, I don't want to play in the front row, but if he put me there, I'd play there. So, it's just whatever Madge (Maguire) feels is right for the team, and if that's me in the team at any position, then I'll jump at it."

With the ARLC introducing a new six-man bench for 2026, coaches will now have the flexibility to name more players, though they are still limited to eight interchanges and four active bench players per match.

For Walters, this means Maguire can carry him as specialist cover across the spine without sacrificing a rotation spot typically reserved for a forward.

"It's good, it's probably going to hurt me a little bit as a utility on the bench, but I feel like it won't change too much. It's there just as a bit of cover in case you do lose an outside back early in the game," Walters said of the tactical shift.

"I'm pretty keen to see how it goes at the start of the year.

"There're a lot of smart coaches in our game, and we'll see how the tactics play out and how they use it to the best of their ability.

"Hopefully, that'll be all sorted by the time I come back, and I won't have to stress about what it's going to look like for me."

Walters' Broncos teammates have flown to England to take on Hull KR in the World Club Challenge on Saturday week.