Crash Tackle: No one can solve Reece Walsh’s form mystery

The trouble with analysing Reece Walsh is he is such a polarising figure his performances are scrutinised in the extreme at both ends of the scale. It’s why the truth about his form is so hard to find, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.

Reece Walsh is all but out of the State of Origin selection race but let’s be honest – he did not deserve to be there.

On form Walsh would surely have been third in line for fullback duties behind the talented but exasperated Kalyn Ponga and the blossoming Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who will play in the centres.

As Walsh disappears from sight for a month it may be time for the man and his coaches to sift through the first seven matches of the season and work out the invisible X-factor that has gone missing from his game.

The trouble with analysing Walsh is he is such a polarising figure his performances are scrutinised in the extreme at both ends of the scale.

The poor kid’s only got to sneeze to get fans off side on social media and some of what he cops is cringeworthy and entirely unfair.

Yet at the other end of the scale there is so much defence of Walsh’s form at the top levels around him you would swear he is tearing it up and he’s clearly not.

He’s had occasional sweet moments but his stats sheet is real mixed bag.

Walsh has made a competition high 16 errors and conceded seven penalties, far too many for the peace of mind of State of Origin selectors.

Code Sport statistics reveal he has made only one line break.

The balance sheet is cleaned up by the fact he has made an impressive seven try assists and nine line break assists but he is averaging less than 100 running metres a game.

Something is not right.

Walsh is not having a shocker but he was valued a million dollar player in his latest contract. The bar is high.

A LEGEND’S NOD

Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa is developing a legion of admirers from the common fan to the occasional legend.

Immortal Andrew Johns does not miss a chance to plug Katoa on Channel 9 and he was particularly rich in his praise of the youngster’s role in the Dolphins shock victory over the Melbourne Storm.

“Three or four years down the track he is going to be a 10 out of 10 player,’’ Johns said. “He is just incredible and one of the best young halfbacks I have seen since Nathan Cleary.’’

FIN-TASTIC

One of the reasons the Dolphins did not call themselves Redcliffe because they wanted to spread their net wide in attracting fans to Suncorp Stadium.

They copped heaps for doing it but another sound Suncorp crowd of 28,024 for the Storm game on Friday proved it was the right move.

After that stunning win you can put another 5000 on top of that for future Dolphin Suncorp games.

BRAVEHEARTS

Rugby league is a tough sport yet sometimes the courage of the common man shines even brighter.

Aaron Hester had to deal with the indescribably sad setbacks of losing his eight-year-old daughter Lily to cancer in 2013 and his wife Sianne to breast cancer in 2016.

Live for Lily was establish to honour Lily and raise funds for children’s cancer and now subsidises two fulltime scientists. This month’s ride from Sydney to Noosa, featuring Aaron and his son Oli, raised $250,000 for this great cause.

Aaron Hester (C) with sons Oliver (11) and Archer (8) Hester. Picture: Josie Hayden

LET IT BURN

Three crazy mid-season contract dramas over Daly Cherry-Evans, Dylan Brown and Lachie Galvin have kick started discussions over whether rugby league needs a proper trade window.

Hopefully it never happens. Rugby league is one of the great off-field sports because of the bushfires of controversy which rage out of control.

As undignified as they are, they create priceless publicity and endless chat for the game. League was never meant to be a civilised sport. It really is that simple.

Originally published as Crash Tackle: No one can solve Reece Walsh’s form mystery