With all the talk being about the red-hot Penrith Panthers, a Broncos superstar has flipped the script at an entertaining media appearance ahead of Sunday’s preliminary final.
Asked about how the Broncos would deal with the world-class threat of Nathan Cleary, Broncos fullback Reece Walsh quickly fired back with his own question—and a big grin.
“How does he deal with us?” Walsh asked with the cheeky swagger he’s become famous for.
“(Nathan’s) a world-class player and if you give him opportunities he’s going to take them, but it’s the same with us—if they give us opportunities, we’re going to take them.”
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The one opportunity Walsh is yet to have in his blossoming NRL career is the chance to celebrate a victory over the Panthers who remain the only club the 23-year-old is yet beat.
Not that he needs any additional motivation heading into this weekend’s do-or-die clash.
“We get to go to the grand final if we win, if that’s not driving you, well you shouldn’t be standing in this room,” Walsh said.
“They’ve won it the last four years, it’s an awesome challenge for us this weekend.”
Will Reynolds return inhibit Walsh’s game?
As has been well documented, the Brisbane side that tackles the Panthers will be very different to the seventeen players that took the field against Canberra in week one of the NRL finals, most notably the return of captain Adam Reynolds to the Broncos number seven jersey.
While some experts have openly questioned if the presence of Reynolds inhibits Walsh’s game, the fullback pointed the finger squarely at himself for being below his best at times when the pair have played together.
“I think it came down to me to be honest (not who the halves were),” Walsh admitted of several lack-lustre performances earlier in the season.
“I had some time to reflect when I had that injury mid-season and I feel like I was more the one (at fault)—I wasn’t unlocking myself.”
As for what’s changed since then? Walsh hinted it’s been about finding a better balance, on and off the field.
“Probably just letting my brain switch off to be honest,” he said.
“There are times when footy’s important and that’s your priority, but there’s times when other things are, it’s around identifying that and making sure when I do get time to switch off and get some down time with my family, that’s my priority.”
Looking ahead to Sunday, Walsh’s firm priority is getting the job done against the four-time reigning premiers to book Brisbane’s second NRL grand final in three seasons.
“It’s come to that point of the season when if you lose, you’re out, so it’s do or die—I’m really excited,” he said.
So are we Reece, so are we.