Why I put my hand up in Walsh debate; Bellamy shows Dogs how it’s done — Crawls

I put my hand up for being one of Reece Walsh’s harshest critics this season for some of his rocks and diamonds performances that I’d maintain have held back the Broncos from delivering on their full potential at different stages during the season.

But even allowing for what could have easily turned out to be another potentially-catastrophic brain snap on Sunday, what Walsh was able to produce after returning from the sin bin in an unforgettable extra-time win over the Raiders just shows why the brilliant fullback is now mentally strong enough to carry the Broncos all the way to premiership glory in 2025.

To watch the way Walsh returned to GIO Stadium with that steely glare in his eyes and then orchestrate three tries in seven minutes to bring the Broncos back from the dead for mine was right up with Nathan Cleary’s effort in the 2023 decider.

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For two years the Broncos have had to live with the heartache that followed Cleary’s inspired performance in that memorable comeback victory.

Yet now Walsh has given the Broncos their own inspiration to finally bury the demons of the past.

The belief they will take out of this amazing comeback effort is going to make it incredibly hard for whoever now faces the Broncos in their preliminary final in two weeks’ time, with the winner of this Sunday’s Panthers vs Bulldogs blockbuster progressing.

But just imagine if it ends up being Cleary’s Panthers who win through to take on the Broncos with a place in the grand final on the line.

What a pre-grand final script that would be.

RICKY NEEDS ALL HIS MOTIVATIONAL POWERS TO RESURRECT RAIDERS

It will take all of Ricky Stuart’s motivational powers to resurrect the Raiders and get them ready to take on the Sharks with just a six-day turnaround.

While most already have Stuart the standout favourite to be the Dally M Coach of the Year, this will be one of the toughest assignments in his 24 years coaching in the NRL.

Not only would the Raiders be physically exhausted after watching Ben Hunt’s field goal sink them in the 94-minute of an epic extra time rollercoaster.

But the emotional toll that loss could have on the Raiders after they looked to have the game won at least twice will be an arguably bigger burden to overcome.

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TALKING POINTS: ‘Pressure not to’ ban Walsh; Ricky’s brutal task as Dogs switch forced

SINCE WHEN WAS SLEDGING A SIN BINNING OFFENCE?

While the head butt drama can’t be blamed for the Raiders’ loss, since when did sledging become a sin binning offence?

It was an absolute joke that Hudson Young copped the same 10-minute spell as Walsh for apparently forcing Walsh to head butt him.

And for the Broncos to be awarded the penalty made it more laughable.

Even if you agree Young should have been binned, it’s just madness that Walsh got the same punishment.

We see sledging every weekend in almost every NRL game.

Yet how often does it result in the bloke doing the sledging copping a head butt for his troubles?

And Stuart was entitled to question what the outcome would have been if it was Young or Joey Tapine who head butted Walsh.

BELLAMY GIVES BULLDOGS A LESSON IN HOW TO MANAGE NRL’S NEXT BIG THING

Craig Bellamy has proven over decades he’s not just a master coach, he is also a master mentor.

And the Storm supercoach has done it again.

Along with guiding Melbourne into an astonishing 10th preliminary final in the last 11 years, Bellamy also handed the Bulldogs a free lesson in how to oversee the emergence of a seriously gifted young playmaker.

While Lachlan Galvin has had been forced to live with the overwhelming expectation that followed Phil Gould rating Galvin the best teenage footballer he’d ever seen, Bellamy has patiently allowed Jonah Pezet the last three years to learn his craft under Jahrome Hughes _ without Pezet ever once having to deal with the same glaring spotlight Galvin has faced.

But such was Pezet’s coming-of-age performance in the 26-18 win on Friday night, the 22-year-old has well and truly announced his arrival as the game’s next big thing.

Along with showcasing a top-shelf kicking game, Pezet came up with some extraordinary moments including a classy try assist, a phenomenal try saving tackle on Matt Burton and a cracking 40/20.

What made it even more exceptional was that it was only Pezet’s second starting appearance of the season.

It’s no secret Pezet has had a get-out clause in his contract that was linked to Hughes’ future at the Storm.

And with Hughes recently extending until the end of 2030, that means Pezet is now officially the hottest young playmaker on the NRL open market.

As Andrew Voss said in Fox League commentary: “What you’re seeing of Jonah Pezet tonight, I could probably rattle off at least five clubs that would sign him in a heartbeat.”

DOGS MUST START SEXTON AND MAHONEY AGAINST PANTHERS

Cameron Ciraldo deserves huge credit for the Bulldogs’ gutsy performance in the loss to the Storm.

To stay in the fight for as long as they did under enormous adversity (after losing Stephen Crichton on the back of the injury that forced Viliame Kikau off for a period) just showed the obvious character Ciraldo has built in his team.

That said, let’s not get carried away that Toby Sexton’s return off the bench was some kind of coaching masterstroke, as some are making it out to be.

If anything, it only confirms why the Bulldogs got it wrong dumping Sexton in the first place.

The moment Sexton entered the game he not only added spark but took charge of the team.

Along with straightening up their attack, you could see how just his presence also lifted the pressure off Galvin who noticeably took a back seat.

As for what happens going forward into the clash with the Panthers this Sunday, Sexton simply must start at halfback.

There is concern Sexton may be in doubt after suffering a sternum injury, although the Dogs seem confident with pain management Sexton will play.

The other change that must be made regardless of who is fit and who isn’t is that Reed Mahoney must get a recall into the starting team with Bailey Hayward reverting to the bench utility role.

As we said in this column last week, Hayward is a promising young player, but he is just not at the level of Mahoney as a dummy half at this stage of his career.

The Dogs can keep denying it all they want but they are kidding no one they are a better footy team when Galvin and Hayward are starting ahead of Sexton and Mahoney.

If they want to beat the Panthers, Ciraldo is going to have to swallow his pride and reinstate both Sexton and Mahoney as the starting 7 and 9.

WHY CLEARY REMAINS NRL’S MVP

James Tedesco deserves to be the favourite for this year’s Dally M Medal.

But the way Nathan Cleary steered the Panthers to victory over the Warriors just showed again why the champion halfback is still the NRL’s MVP at this time of the season.

Cleary’s kicking game and ability to provide the polish in the big moments highlighted why no one should write off the Panthers from making it five straight premierships (despite finishing the regular season outside the top four).

As brave as the Warriors were, they just lacked the big game experience that Cleary gave the Panthers in vital moments, while Isaiah Papali’i and Brian To’o were enormous.

Papali’i charged for 176m from 18 runs coming off the bench, while To’o finished with 251m from 19 runs.

FITZY SILENCES SHARKS’ CRITICS WITH GUTSY WIN

Braydon Trindall again showed why he is the Sharks’ main man with his two try assists in the 20-10 win over the Roosters.

But while Nicho Hynes was more than happy to ride shotgun and allow Trindall to take charge, you’d think Craig Fitzgibbon will still want to see more from his million-dollar man this week if the Sharks are to upset the Raiders.

It was still a really gutsy win from the Sharks given how almost everyone had Trent Robinson’s team favoured to win this game.

Blayke Brailey also delivered another inspired skipper’s performance, with his exceptional dummy half work sending Toby Rudolf crashing over James Tedesco for the match clinching try.

And while the Cronulla forwards more than held their own against the powerful Roosters pack, so did Ronaldo Mulitalo in his head-to-head battle with Mark Nawaqanitawase.

While Nawaqanitawase again came up with some incredible moments, Mulitalo certainly gave as good as he got to finish with a double.

DCE MIGHT NOT BE SUCH A BAD BUY AFTER ALL

The most disappointing performance of week one of the finals belonged to the Roosters.

But if there is a silver lining to come out of it, it’s that Daly Cherry-Evans’ pending arrival might not be such a bad thing after all.

While I’ve been among the many critical of the Roosters’ decision to bring in DCE over the top of young Hugo Savala, for the right price (they’re saying the deal is worth $500,000 for next season) it could turn out to be money well spent on the back of what we saw in the Shire on Saturday night.

Don’t forget the Roosters will also have NSW dummy half Reece Robson arriving for 2026 which will further strengthen their spine.

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