Broncos v Cowboys Pre-season Challenge: Walsh-Cobbo could prove NRL’s most potent combination

Reece Walsh sent a chilling warning to NRL rivals after 11 minutes of magic from Brisbane’s golden boy against the Cowboys - and he has a new partner in crime. All the talking points from the Pre-season Challenge fixture.

Reece Walsh starred in brisbane’s Pre-season challenge win over the Cowboys.

Reece Walsh sent a chilling warning to NRL rivals after 11 minutes of magic from Brisbane’s golden boy inspired the Broncos’ 46-20 trial trouncing of the Cowboys in Mackay on Sunday.

In his first appearance of 2024, ‘Reece Lightning’ struck in the tropics, the superstar fullback scoring a try and having a hand in three others as the Broncos flexed their muscle in the NRL’s pre-season challenge.

The Broncos rolled out eight big guns from last year’s grand final team and Brisbane will head to Las Vegas on Thursday for round 1 brimming with confidence after an eight-tries-to four romp at a boggy BB Print Stadium.

North Queensland’s young guns did well to trail 16-14 at halftime, but when Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo shifted gears, the Broncos exploded to win the second stanza 30-6.

“Reece just glides, he is something special,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said. “We had a few errors in the first half, but we fixed that up in the second half and when Reece gets involved, he is so hard to defend against.

“It was a good hit out, we didn’t have a bad player really.”

Reece Walsh starred in brisbane’s Pre-season challenge win over the Cowboys.

COMBINATIONS

Walsh and Cobbo could be the dynamite one-two punch of the 2024 NRL season.

Brilliant as a winger, Cobbo can be even more lethal as a centre after terrorising the Cowboys.

Playing in the left-centre slot made famous by Broncos great Steve Renouf, his Indigenous mentor, Cobbo needed just 90 seconds to put Corey Oates over before soaring high for a Walsh kick to crash over just after halftime.

“Selwyn was very good,” Walters said. “The plan was for him to play the full 80 minutes and I couldn’t be happier with how he has started in his new position.”

Reece lightning! 🐴#NRLCowboysBroncospic.twitter.com/j2WFBbu1l7

— NRL (@NRL) February 18, 2024

RECRUIT WATCH

Roosters import Fletcher Baker made his presence felt in his debut in Broncos colours. While Corey Jensen was Brisbane’s best forward, Baker came off the bench and the hulking 107kg prop wasted no time pressing for round 1 selection with a number of strong runs.

On this display, Baker must be in Brisbane’s top 17 for Vegas, most likely as a bench forward supporting Jensen and superstar prop Payne Haas.

ROOKIE WATCH

No Kurt Capewell, no worries.

There were fears about Brisbane’s left edge following the shock off-season departure of premiership vice-captain Capewell to the Warriors, but in Piakura, the Broncos possess a potential back-row superstar.

Piakura showed clever line-running to score two tries, but the 21-year-old’s fine display was soured by a knee injury that will require scans.

HOT TAKE

Brisbane’s Big Three of Haas, Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan all made their 2024 debuts and while Haas was placed on report for a high shot in the 24th minute, he is likely to escape with only a fine.

Superstar prop Haas should be available for the historic Roosters clash on March 3, while Carrigan and Reynolds will also head to Sin City after emerging injury-free from their first-half hitouts.

Payne Haas.

Pat Carrigan.

FINAL SAY

It was only a trial, but the Broncos look genuine premiership contenders. They have strike across the park, power in the forwards and Tristan Sailor shapes as a match-winning No.14 with his poise, energy and attacking instincts.

If Walsh and Reynolds stay fit, Brisbane can finally demolish the Penrith dynasty.