By Wayne Heming

One of rugby league’s finest ever fullbacks, Darren Lockyer, is anticipating both James Tedesco and the “new kid on the block” Reese Walsh to bring something extra special to Suncorp Stadium on Friday night when the Broncos host the Roosters.

It’s an epic battle that will most likely spread into the upcoming State of Origin series and then into the end-of-season finals with both clubs in good form.

In the blue corner, we have James Tedesco, 31, a veteran of 233 first-grade games, 22 Origins for NSW, and 13 Tests for Australia.

He is currently the captain of NSW and the Kangaroos.

In the red corner, or,  in this case, the Maroon corner, is Brisbane’s richly talented custodian, Reece Walsh, who wants Tedesco’s Australian jumper.

In seven games this season Tedesco has scored 4 tries, served up five try assists, made 102 runs 942 metres (av: 9.23m) three line breaks, 31 tackle breaks, and committed seven errors.

Walsh has turned out for six games, had one try assist, made 63 runs for 645 (10.23m) 16 tackle breaks, and coughed up 16 errors.

Those figures make for a cracking storyline.

On Friday night, Lockyer, in his role as a Queensland selector,  will run his eye over Tedesco but will be more focussed on Walsh and his ongoing development in the number one jumper.

“Tedesco is a champion and he has done the job before for the Blues,” said the highly decorated FOG#104.

“Teddy copped a lot of criticism last year but he has come out and started 2024 very strongly.

“I reckon for Tedesco things could get a little personal with the young kid on the block wanting to take his position.

“That will bring out the best in Tedesco, there’s no doubt about that.”

Walsh has shown already that he doesn’t let occasions get to him. He just loves to play footy.

The biggest criticism of Walsh is he makes too many mistakes (twice as many as Tedesco this season) because he is always in attack mode trying to make something happen.

“He’s still learning the professionalism of the game,” said Lockyer, the game’s best fullback until then Broncos coach Wayne Bennett shocked the rugby league world by converting him into a five-eighth with great success in 2004.

“Reece does so many great things with the footy and the risks that he takes are not always going to come off.

“But when he makes an error, he just gets on with the game, that’s what I love about him, he’s always looking to attack you.

“He’s a threat whenever he’s got the ball or around it.”

Lockyer said Walsh would never be a “passive player”.

“He wants to make something happen all the time. He’s got the athletic attributes to make things happen on the field.

“That’s exciting for a spectator watching because he does so many great things, but as a coach,  you are always a little nervous about the outcome because he can come up with an error the way he plays.

Lockyer said Walsh would get better the more games he played.

“Billy Slater was the same in the early part of his career, he always wanted to attack and create,” added Lockyer.

Lockyer, who played 36 games for Queensland and 59 for Australia, many of them as captain, said there was improvement to come in Walsh’s game.

“I don’t think he can get any faster or too much stronger but as long as he maintains that speed off the mark he is always going to be dangerous.

“What he is going to get better at, is knowing when to pull the trigger and when not to.

“You wouldn’t change him because of the threat that he brings as an attacking weapon, and he’s only going to get better with time.

‘Nobody is a complete player in their early twenties.

“It takes 150 games to get to that point in your career.”