REECE Walsh has set his sights on a maiden Queensland Origin jumper next season as Brisbane’s marquee recruit looks to light up the Broncos’ backline in 2023.
After an 18-month stint at the Warriors, Walsh has come back home to Red Hill and all eyes will be on the classy 20-year-old being hailed as the X-factor who can finally propel the Broncos to the playoffs after three consecutive failed finals attempts.
But Walsh isn’t just hellbent on igniting the Broncos – he hopes doing so can be the catalyst for achieving the Origin dream that has agonisingly eluded him.
For Walsh, reaching one of his life goals – a Queensland Origin jumper – has been a heart-wrenching tale of so near, yet so far.
Few rugby league top-liners have come as close to Origin selection as the Nerang Roosters junior.
Walsh was on the cusp of a shock Origin debut in 2021, called up by former Queensland coach Paul Green for Game Two after the Maroons were trounced 52-0 in the opening game of the series.
At age 18, the starry-eyed Walsh dared to dream of running onto Suncorp Stadium, his family and friends in the stands at Queensland’s home of rugby league proudly cheering him on.
Then, heartbreak.
Just 24 hours before Origin II, Walsh chased a kick at the captain’s run and felt the shattering tweak of his hamstring. The teenager was forced to withdraw just hours later at Queensland’s match-eve team dinner.
And while Walsh was an extended member of Billy Slater’s Maroons squad this year, the livewire custodian has yet to formally receive his maiden Queensland Origin jumper.
Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga may be Queensland’s incumbent fullback, but injuries and form slumps are frequent in the NRL and if the door swings open for the Maroons No.1 jumper, Walsh is ready to charge through and snatch it.
“I would love to finally play Origin for Queensland,” said Walsh, who has returned to training for Brisbane’s 2023 pre-season.
“I was shattered to go so close to my debut.
“It was pretty tough to take. I got to the captain’s run, and I was one day away from my debut.
“I had been in camp all week, and seeing all these stars and high quality players in camp was an unbelievable experience.
“There were guys I saw on TV, and suddenly they were right beside me at training.
“It really hurt to miss out and it was tough to handle. But it has lit a fire inside me to want to get back there again and play on Suncorp Stadium in front of a packed crowd with my family’s name on that Queensland jumper.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved watching Origin and it would mean the world to represent Queensland in front of all the diehard Maroon fans.
“My good mate Patty Carrigan did it this year and he won the Wally Lewis Medal.
“To see Patty do that, that is a good motivation for me and it’s a real goal. But I have to train hard first, and start the season well for the Broncos.”
Walsh has a decorated Origin star in his corner.
Former Broncos skipper and FOG No.166 Darius Boyd is one of the most prolific finishers in Origin’s 42-year history, scoring 17 tries from 28 appearances for Queensland in a fine interstate career spanning 2008-17.
The 337-game NRL legend is now an assistant coach at the Broncos and one of his primary tasks is working closely with Walsh, who will wear the No.1 jumper in which Boyd excelled in his second stint at Red Hill.
“Darbs will be awesome for me,” Walsh said.
“I remember when I was 16 years old, he came to one of our Broncos Academy sessions teaching us how to throw short and long balls.
“His mentoring will be massive. I have more confidence now to go to him for questions and to have a chat to him.
“Darbs has done it all in the game. People forget he was one of the best fullbacks in the game. He mastered ball-playing and reading three-on-two try-scoring situations, so I’m looking forward to learning from him.”
After bursting on the scene with some sizzling performances for the Warriors in his rookie season in 2021, Walsh struggled to dominate in his second full campaign.
Was he a victim of second-year syndrome? Walsh is adamant he grew as a player this year and is ready to kick on the Broncos with a view to one day wearing Maroon in the code’s toughest arena.
“The big thing I took out of the year just gone is I did make small improvements in areas of my game,” he said.
“My effort areas have improved, and people don’t often see those things.
“I have worked hard on my preparation, and mentally I think I’m a stronger player.
“I felt this year that I actually grew as a more complete player, rather than having those flashy moments and doing fancy things. It was a good growth year for myself, and it’s a year I will look back on feeling I improved as a player.
“I wouldn’t say I feel pressure to perform at the Broncos. It actually feels good coming back to the club. It’s a club I’ve always loved, and I’m very excited to put on that Broncos jumper once again.”