Lockyer lauds new Kangaroo Walsh after GF masterclass

“Did that just happen?”

Broncos great Darren Lockyer was full of praise for 2025 Clive Churchill Medallist Reece Walsh's match-winning performance in Sunday night's epic 26-22 grand final defeat of the Storm.

Lockyer was one of the Australian selectors who chose Walsh for the upcoming Ashes series in England with the Kangaroos and the former Test captain is in awe of Walsh's role in Brisbane's first premiership in 19-years.    

“I haven't seen a better performance in a grand final,” Lockyer told NRL.com.

"He saved tries, he scored tries, he set up tries. You could just tell by his actions how much it meant to him to win.

“I think that's what we probably overlook a little bit with Reece; we look at his talent and his flair, but we probably forget and don’t understand how much passion he has and how tough he is.

“If you’ve got speed; you've got strength, but he's been willing to use his strength a lot more these days and not just his speed.

"It was incredible, I've never seen a better performance and a lot of other judges that have been around the game for a long time; they would probably say the same thing.”

While Walsh has garnered praise for his attacking prowess in recent weeks - especially during this year’s exhilarating finals series, Lockyer saw a change in his game even earlier in the season.

“I think when Reyno [Adam Reynolds] was out and Ezra [Mam] was out, he had to take a bit more responsibility," Lockyer said.

“I think probably the easiest way to explain it is; instead of using his speed and his flashiness, he's decided to play tough first and then that other stuff comes later. That's making him the complete player.

“People are amazed by what he does on the footy field. (Against the Storm), you ask yourself at the end of the game, did that just happen? Did that just happen?

“How does one person (do what he did). I mean, while everyone contributed - to save three tries and he scored an amazing solo try; he set up three, he kicked goals.

“It's phenomenal. It's like it's you're writing a fiction book. It's like a fairy tale come true.”

New Australian coach Kevin Walters admitted he faced a tough call to choose between Walsh and Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards for the Kangaroos No.1 jersey in the opening Test at Wembley on October 25.

Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo, whose Penrith side was eliminated by Walsh's Broncos in the preliminary final, said the fullback has been in outstanding form for the past few months.

“You don’t want to single out one person for why they won the grand final, but he did a hell of a job on both sides of the ball," Yeo said.

“We understand how good he is attacking-wise, but some of the defensive decisions he came up with last night ... it was outstanding and capped off a wonderful couple of months for him.”

Broncos team-mate Pat Carrigan, who will also be on the plane to England for the Ashes tour, has had a front row seat to Walsh’s evolution, which he thinks has come with experience.

“I think he's always been capable of that," Carrigan said.  “He's had a couple of unlucky runs with injuries and stuff, but he's just a kid.

“He's learning, he's going to keep getting better and I think as teammates we need to support him too in that role.

“I know he's a great attacking player, but his defence; he saved a few tries and that’s what won us the game (against Melbourne), he was special …

“And I think he is tough. He always tries to tell us he's born and raised in Nerang, but I don't know about that …

“We love him. He competes for everything and he competed on every play and he's a big part of why we're here right now.”