He’s the 21-year-old superstar on the cusp of ending the Broncos’ NRL title drought.
But just three years ago, Reece Walsh packed his bags and left Red Hill after being told by Kevin Walters he wouldn’t be playing first grade.
Walsh’s departure reportedly came down to “inconsistent messaging” to the young star and what he felt was a broken promise.
According to a Courier Mail report, Walsh felt he had been guaranteed an upgrade from his development deal to a full-time deal that would allow him to play first grade.
Watch The NRL Women’s Premiership Grand Final Live on Kayo Sports. Newcastle Knights vs Gold Coast Titans SUN 1 OCT 3:55PM AEDT. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
However it didn’t come, with the Broncos having just one spot left and fellow young gun Brendan Piakura also assured of a spot in the first grade squad.
With the contract situation up in the air, the Warriors pounced and tabled an attractive contract to move across the Tasman — which instantly backfired on Red Hill bosses.
Walsh landed in New Zealand and became an instant success, shifting the club talisman Roger Tuivasa-Sheck out of the No.1 jersey after only one week.
League legend Michael Ennis slammed the Broncos at the time, explaining he was “astounded” the young fullback was allowed to walk.
Premiership winner Braith Anasta described it as a “shocking call” as Walsh proved he was more than ready to handle the NRL.
Walsh later revealed a chat with Kevin Walters when it became clear to him “the plans I wanted for my future weren’t really the same he wanted.”
“I wanted to play first grade. I’m not saying I wanted to jump into it. But Kevvie didn’t think I was quite ready,” he said.
“He wanted to hold me back a little bit and they had Jamayne (Isaako) there. I wanted to play first grade.
“It was a tough decision to leave the Broncos, I wanted to be a Bronco my whole life and that hasn’t come. I thought I would be a Bronco for life. But now I am here at the Warriors and I am a Warrior now and very grateful.”
‘It’s a great achievement!’ | 11:29
‘I WANT TO GO HOME’
While he was thriving with the Warriors on the park, reality hit for Walsh when he knew he would have to leave Australian shores when the club returned to their Auckland base after being based across the Tasman during Covid.
That meant leaving his daughter, Leila, in Brisbane and taking his whole life overseas.
Walsh’s Warriors stint had hit a rough patch when he was busted in possession of cocaine, before later escaping conviction, and had to front Warriors chief executive Cameron George.
And in the next meeting between the pair, Walsh explained to George he wanted to return home to Brisbane to be closer to his daughter.
“I want to go to the Broncos. I want to go back home to them,” Walsh said according to the SMH.
When word spread he wanted out of the Warriors, the NRL’s newest franchise — the Dolphins — swooped and tabled a mammoth $2.4 million deal over three years.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘CRAZY MONEY’: Luai’s $2 million decision as three rival clubs circle Panthers star
‘EMBARRASSING’: Calls grow louder for Bunker change to avoid grand final ‘disaster’
‘TOO FAR’: Debate ignites over ‘polarising’ Panthers as champs accused of ‘arrogance’
‘BLOOD SPILT’: The ‘initiation’ that turned young Petero into Broncos champion
Gordie drops ‘BEST Broncos team ever’ | 01:47
But Walsh was a man of his word and seized the chance to return to his former club — in the process effectively gaving up $1 million by signing a three-year contract worth about $1.4 million to return to Red Hill.
In a twist of fate for the Broncos, they may have ultimately benefitted in the long-run from letter the young star go and regaining him, with Walsh coming back a better player and person.
“I really took a lot out of those two years away, I think I’m better off for it,” Walsh said at the time.
“Now I’m back, I’m bit more experienced and can bring a lot more back to the team.
“… I took a lot out of those two years. I had a really good coaching staff and senior players around me. I loved my time there- they taught me a lot. I’ve come back a much more mature player, I’ve learned a lot of lessons on the ball and off it.”
THE ULTIMATE MENTOR
At just 21, Walsh has had to front up and make several big decisions himself in his short career.
But he has also beneffited from some star-studded help, with Maroons coach Billy Slater playing a crucial role in his development into one of the game’s biggest attacking weapons.
Slater snubbed incumbent fullback Kalyn Ponga ahead of the 2023 series opener, despite the Knights gun’s match-winning performance in the 2022 decider.
Ponga was struggling with concussions problems and Slater knew he could get the best out of the Broncos gun.
Brad Fittler’s NSW made it clear they would target Walsh and attempt to pin him in a corner, ready to rough up Queensland’s whizkid.
But Walsh held his own before delivering a huge display in front of a sold-out Suncorp Stadium in Game II, leaving the field to raucous applause after a fracas with Jarome Luai.
Walsh pointing to the Maroons, and kissing it became yet another moment etched in State of Origin folklore.
For league legend Cooper Cronk, Walsh got more out of the Origin series than just the victory, setting him up on the path to greatness.
“There was a lot of talk around Walsh and Ponga, I know Billy’s approach is that he watches football like a hawk,” Cronk said to foxsports.com.au.
“With his job at Channel Nine he would watch Reece Walsh a lot live, so he’s see all the things we don’t get to see on the television screen.
“The shadowing of him at training, that’s him just saying this is what I see as a fullback and where I’d go. ‘Tell me what you do?’.
“There’s a learning there, because Billy was the best at what he did and it can only be a benefit to Walsh, and for him to absorb that information.”
2023 Dally M: Try of the Year contenders | 02:01
Slater and Walsh’s similarities also now go past their speed and agility according to Cronk, who believes the Queensland legend instilled in him a new mindset.
Cronk explained how Walsh’s abilities have been unlocked since the 2023 Origin series and how Slater created a new beast.
“His influence has been huge, but you can’t really put a number on it. Billy Slater’s mentality as a fullback was about getting the ball when defenders don’t want you to have it,” Cronk said.
“That was his mindset. I feel like prior to Origin Walsh had glimpses and would have moments, coming in and out of games depending on when the ball got to him.
“After Origin, we’ve seen him have an impact because he goes after the ball, he goes and he gets it.
“The times when he lights up the defensive line is because of his keenness or his energy to be involved and get his hands on the footy.
“Because I think Billy has given him the mindset that when the defence looks tired and doesn’t want you to run the ball, that’s when you should run.
“I think he’s had a huge impact, but I think that’s the example of where Slater has shifted his mindset.”
‘THEY NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN’
With an Origin series victory under his belt, and an umblemished finals record to boot, Walsh now rides into the biggest test of his career high on confidence.
The Panthers represent the NRL’s ultimate test but Cronk urged Walsh and co to double down on the “swagger” that has taken them to the decider.
“From my learnings, Reece, Ezra Mam and all the other guys, they shouldn’t change a single thing,” Cronk said.
“They’ve done it their own way, with swagger, confidence and high-end execution. They need to do it on the biggest stage.
“You don’t get to a grand final and start changing, because once you start hoping, start second guessing or even hesitating, Penrith will claim victory.
“For the Broncos fans and supporters, I hope they have their swagger and roll in to Accor Stadium beaming with confidence, because they need to double down on what got them there.”
Discussion about this post