NRL 2022: Warriors sensation Reece Walsh reveals he was offered drugs by strangers following his remarkable NRL rise

Wonderkid Reece Walsh has revealed his meteoric rise in the NRL resulted in him being offered drugs by strangers, drinking excessively and needing counselling. Now he wants other young stars to know his story.

Warriors wonderkid Reece Walsh has revealed he was offered drugs by strangers in nightclubs as his meteoric rise to NRL stardom made him “arrogant” and embroiled in a cocaine scandal.

Walsh returned to pre-season training with the Redcliffe-based Warriors this week intent on rebounding from the embarrassing end to a remarkable 2021 which saw him become one of the NRL’s hottest young players before he was locked up on the Gold Coast.

In a stunning interview with The Sunday Mail, Walsh revealed his instant fame resulted in random drug offers, excessive drinking and partying.

A 19-year-old father, Walsh has not touched alcohol since being arrested on September 26 and wants his whirlwind story to be a warning to the next crop of emerging sports superstars.

“It was massive, I learnt a big lesson about not thinking you’re better than everyone and on top of the world,” he said.

“I got complacent and arrogant. It’s been a huge learning curve. I’m glad I learnt it at this age.

“Even though it was disappointing and I was ashamed of what I did, I’m happy it’s happened now and not five or 10 years down the track. I could have still been doing the same stuff and having bad habits.

“It’s something I can learn from and also tell my story to young kids coming through when I’m a bit older and more experienced.”

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Reece Walsh was untouchable in his rookie season. Picture: NRL Photos

RISE OF A ROOKIE STAR

Few could have predicted the way 2021 played out for Walsh.

At the start of the year, the Brisbane Broncos deemed the 18-year-old Walsh was not ready for the NRL and planned to play him in Queensland’s reserve grade competition the Intrust Super Cup.

At the same time, the Warriors were wooing Walsh with a record $1.2 million contract to replace rugby-bound captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

Within weeks of signing with the Warriors, much to the anger of long-suffering Broncos fans, Walsh was released by Brisbane and made his NRL debut in Round 7.

What followed was a remarkable run of form as a fearless Walsh tore his seasoned NRL opponents to shreds with dazzling fullback play.

Walsh was selected to make his State of Origin debut after just seven NRL games as Queensland battled an injury crisis in the lead-up to Game Two.

Within a few months Walsh had gone from the outskirts of Red Hill to a poster boy of the biggest game in Australian sport.

Reece Walsh was picked for State of Origin after just seven NRL games. Picture: Image/Josh Woning

A hamstring injury on match eve robbed Walsh of becoming Origin’s youngest debutant since Ben Ikin in 1995, but his selection further fuelled the hype around one of the NRL’s most promising prospects in years.

“It was pretty crazy,” Walsh said of his rookie season.

“I wouldn’t say it happened too quickly – everything happens for a reason. I found myself in the NRL and it’s something I always dreamed of doing.

“Now I’m there it’s awesome, but I’ve had a couple of lessons.

“I can’t get complacent. I’ve got to keep working hard and move forward.”

FROM THE PENTHOUSE TO WATCHHOUSE

Walsh’s rise seemed too good to be true.

The well-spoken teenager with million-dollar looks, and skills to match, quickly became a favourite among fans across the game.

He boasts 195,000 followers on Instagram, more than double that of Dally M Medal winner Tom Trbojevic – the best player in the NRL.

But it all came crashing down for Walsh as quickly as he went up.

Walsh was arrested in the Surfers Paradise party precinct after disobeying a police direction to move on and a body search discovered a small bag of cocaine.

Walsh broke down facing the media after being caught in possession of cocaine.

Walsh fronted up the next day to apologise publicly but was fined $5000 by the NRL and suspended for two games, to be served in the upcoming season.

He then had to endure the public embarrassment of facing court, where he was placed on a good behaviour bond and hit with a $400 fine.

Walsh vowed to never do drugs after growing up watching his mother battle addiction, but his lapse in judgment cost him dearly.

“I said I wouldn’t touch drugs,” Walsh admitted.

“Then it got to the off-season and I got complacent. I thought I was on top of the world.

“I was going out and random people were coming up to me trying to give me stuff. It got to a point where I thought ‘stuff it, I’ll just do it’.

“I paid the price and I’m still paying it to this day. To be honest, I’ll probably pay for it for the rest of my life.

“If I can move on now and try to be a better person, and not go down that path again, I will take a huge learning out of that.”

Walsh had to face court. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Walsh’s brush with the law was unfortunate but it came with a silver lining.

He has not touched alcohol since and is enjoying being a parent to nine-month-old Leila with partner Freda Puru, living on Brisbane’s northside as the Warriors spend the 2022 season at Redcliffe.

“I haven’t had a drop of alcohol since I got into trouble,” Walsh said.

“I love waking up on the weekend and picking my daughter up feeling great. We go to the park and enjoy family time.

“I used to be drinking alcohol, waking up hungover and feeling shit. There were a couple of times where I was that hungover I couldn’t pick up my little one.

“It’s been a massive change. I’m glad it happened when I’m this young.

“I feel like it’s been a good thing. I’m moving in the right direction.”

Walsh and daughter Leila.

THE ORIGIN DREAM

Polite and considerate, Walsh speaks like a man with a clear mind and purpose.

But he is still a work in progress, admitting monthly counselling sessions with an NRL psychologist have been a godsend.

“I had a lot of time to look back on the year,” Walsh said.

“I had a bit of a hiccup in the off-season which was disappointing, but I’m doing a lot of work with my counsellor and trying to get everything right off the field.

“I get a breath of fresh air every time I talk to her about how I’m feeling, what’s going on and what I’m thinking about.

“She has been massive with helping me and pushing me in the right direction. We are improving and getting better each session. She grounds me.”

Walsh wants to represent Queensland. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

After playing 16 games in his rookie season, Walsh has bulked up from 82kg to 87kg and wants to lead the Warriors to a finals appearance in 2022.

And he is also hoping to realise his dream of playing State of Origin for Queensland after it was taken from him in cruel circumstances.

“I want to be the best player I can be for the team,” he said.

“When I got in trouble, Billy (Slater, Queensland coach) was straight on the phone checking up. I had a chat with him last week as well. He wanted to see how I was going.

“If I’m fortunate enough to be picked around the squad I will be extremely grateful. If I get the opportunity again one day I will be ready.

“I can’t wait to build on the back of last year.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Warriors sensation Reece Walsh reveals he was offered drugs by strangers following his remarkable NRL rise