Broncos fullback Reece Walsh overcame a nervous start against the Sea Eagles to post another impressive performance that has calls growing louder for his selection in this year’s Queensland State of Origin side.
The lighting quick fullback was back to his best in attack with two try assists, 13 tackle breaks and 163 running metres run as the Broncos proved too classy for Manly on the opening night of Magic Round.
Skipper Adam Reynolds has seen not only his skills on the field, but the work Walsh has been doing off the field to fine-tune his game and said he was a “competitor” who would not look out of place in an Origin jersey.
“Not at all; he is a competitor and a winner and wants to get his hands on the ball,” Reynolds said.
“It doesn’t matter what stage he is on. Definitely he wouldn't look out of place (in Origin).
Walsh wonderful yet again
“I am hoping I have got him in the Broncs jersey [during the Origin period], but that is just me being selfish. He definitely deserves it and has been our best player this year.
“Walshy is always practising his game. He is a hungry kid with a load of knowledge, but he always wants to be doing everything.
“It is my job to rein him back a little bit because he is one hundred miles per hour. It just shows how keen he is to want to be involved in the game and how much he wants his hands on the ball.”
Cobbo loves Magic Round
While Walsh has provided plenty of moments for the highlights reel this season, coach Kevin Walters has said he still had areas of his game to work on, and Reynolds agreed that there were times where he had to learn to pick his moments better.
However, the way he responded from a disappointing performance last week, as well as the way he was able to set aside his shaky start to his game were positive signs.
“Kev challenged him a bit during the week about being a bit more involved and I thought tonight, particularly out the back of shape, he was fantastic … he was involved in most of the good stuff that came off tonight,” Reynolds said.
“That’s him competing and wanting his hands on the ball. I thought he was probably our best tonight.
“He is a winner. He wants to win. He is always trying to perfect his craft and be involved in the game.
“That's where I am talking about me trying to rein him back a little bit because at times he is trying to be too involved.
“It is a good sign, but at times we want him to pick his moments … I think that is when errors creep into his game.”
Some of the magic from day one
Walsh was one of a number of Queensland-eligible Broncos to put their hand up for selection, with Selwyn Cobbo picking up his second Magic Round hat-trick, while forwards Pat Carrigan, Kurt Capewell and Thomas Fleger also put in solid performances.
Star prop Payne Haas is set to be one of the first picked for New South Wales, meaning the good form of the Broncos could see them contribute a strong contingent of players to the upcoming Origin series.
"It is privilege if they get picked because it means we are doing something well here," Reynolds said of the potential challenge to his side's depth during the representative period.
The burrowing Broncos
"It is thoroughly deserved. It is the next-man-up mentality. We have got plenty of players in our squad that are keen to get an opportunity. We will see when it comes around."
An opposing captain for this match, Daly Cherry-Evans could potentially be leading Walsh out come kickoff for Origin Game I, and praised his good form, without going as far as calling for his selection.
“It is hard, because I don’t want to be putting any influence towards the selectors and the coach who already have a hard enough job,” Cherry-Evans said when asked in the post-match press conference about the likelihood of Walsh donning a Maroons jersey.
“I will say he is in great form and watching him out there tonight firsthand, he was fantastic, he broke a lot of tackles, he made it really hard for us to get him and he played really good footy tonight off the back of some really strong forwards.
“I said to him after the game, keep playing good footy, you never know what can happen and he smiled and that’s all you can ask. When people are happy and smiling it’s good to see in rugby league, so he’s going really well.”
