Reece Walsh comes clean on toilet water stunt after Storm stunner
Reece Walsh capped a week of drama surrounding his toilet water stunt with a cheeky try celebration — and then came clean on the saga following his brilliant performance against Melbourne.
Broncos superstar Reece Walsh has set the record straight on ‘dunny-gate’.
Walsh put a “weird” week behind him with a man-of-the-match performance as Brisbane locked up a top four finish with a 30-14 dismantling of Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
The Broncos fullback’s five-star showing to sink the Storm followed a bizarre social media saga after Walsh posted a video of himself drinking toilet water.
Walsh became an instant online meme and the butt of jokes, even prompting the Broncos to release a club statement urging people not to mimic his antics.
He even followed it up with multiple posts related to the plumbing predicament.
The toilet was believed to be brand new as part of a home renovation Walsh is playing a large hand in given his love of do-it-yourself work.
Walsh made reference to the saga with a toilet water drinking try celebration after one of his two four-pointers that flushed the Storm.
He then came clean in a post-match interview with Channel 9’s Sam Thaiday in Brisbane’s dressing room, insisting the toilet had never been used amid accusations plumbers like to ‘christen’ their new work.
“We installed the toilet, all right?” Walsh said.
“So everybody out there saying that all these people use it…we put it in, all right?
“I don’t want young ones doing that sort of stuff but geez, it got blown out (of proportion) a little bit, don’t you reckon?”
What hasn’t been blown out of proportion is Walsh’s purple patch of form as the Broncos mount a late charge to the 2025 NRL premiership.
The Brisbane No. 1 blitzed Melbourne with two tries, another try-assist and seven goals as the Broncos secured fourth spot and a qualifying final against minor premiers Canberra next weekend in the nation’s capital.
MATCH REPORT: WALSH STARS AS BRONCOS STUN STORM
Call it a Royal Flush.
Broncos fullback superstar and part-time plumber Reece Walsh buried his toilet-bowl brouhaha to shock the woeful Storm, sealing a top-four berth for Brisbane with a famous 30-14 boilover on Thursday night.
On a night of finals-style drama before 44,645 at Suncorp Stadium, Melbourne’s premiership hopes copped a savage blow after Jahrome Hughes suffered a suspected broken wrist in a potential season-ending disaster for the star halfback.
To compound the Storm’s plight, monster prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona could face a lengthy suspension after being sin-binned for a nasty high shot on Ben Talty in the 37th minute.
But Melbourne’s dual hammer blow was overshadowed by the magic of Walsh, who posted a double in a 22-point masterclass to consign the sloppy Storm to a second straight loss on the eve of the finals.
When Walsh sliced through three minutes after half-time to give Brisbane an 18-4 lead, he celebrated by imitating the toilet-water drinking antics that caused a social-media storm on Monday.
With Walsh in the mood, Brisbane overcame the axing of boozy Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki to clinch fourth spot - setting up a blockbuster in Canberra against minor premiers the Raiders in week one of the finals.
STORM DAMAGE
Melbourne’s woeful first half was crystallised by the sight of Hughes collapsing to the turf in agony inside 25 minutes.
Returning for his first game in 42 days from a dislocated shoulder, Hughes suffered a fresh setback when he was steamrolled attempting to tackle hard-running Broncos back-rower Brendan Piakura.
Hughes then tried to ignite a backline raid, but as soon as he passed, he fell to the ground clutching at his left arm and called for the Storm trainers.
The extended loss of Hughes would be a crushing blow for Melbourne’s title hopes as they sweat on the return of star hooker Harry Grant from suspension.
REECE’S REVENGE
You can bag him. But you can’t break him.
The indomitable, tungsten-tough Walsh walked through a pre-game firestorm and emerged a Suncorp match-winner.
Forget any chaos that swirls around him. Walsh lives for the moment. He relishes the high-octane theatre of finals-style football and Brisbane’s golden boy was at the epicentre of Melbourne’s first-half implosion.
He pounced on a Payne Haas offload to score the opening try after 15 minutes and when he ignited a clever short-side rush to put Piakura over 60 seconds before half-time, the Broncos could smell an upset at 12-4.
Walsh then blasted a booming 40-20 straight after half-time, creating the field position for him to crash over and leave the Storm in disarray at 18-4.
If ‘Reece Lightning’ continues in this vein - he fears no-one - the Broncos can win the premiership.
BRICK WALL BRONCOS
After conceding 70 points in the past three weeks, the Broncos rediscovered the mongrel that wins premierships.
Brisbane’s first-half display to hold the Storm to one try was magnificent. Kotoni Staggs and Billy Walters led the way with two trysavers before Josiah Karapani streaked 75 metres to score in the dying seconds.
It was the steely stuff of team spirit that wins titles.
SLOPPY STORM
Check Craig Bellamy’s blood pressure. The Storm coach will be filthy after watching another insipid display from the title favourites.
Flogged 40-10 by the Roosters last week, the Storm’s discipline and ball control was woeful as the Broncos completed at a supreme 95 per cent to turn the screws.
The Storm will be a better side when Grant returns but they need to sharpen up pronto or risk going out the back door.
More Coverage
Originally published as Reece Walsh comes clean on toilet water stunt after Storm stunner
Join the conversation
Twist in farcical Wests Tigers drama as axed directors return
Read more
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne being sued
Read more