'Everyone targets him': Undeniable Reece Walsh truth laid bare

Reece Walsh was left battered and bruised after a brutal Origin decider but Broncos coach Kevin Walters has some bad news for his charge. 

It's the bitter truth Reece Walsh will have to accept. Photo: Getty Images

Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters has echoed Maroons coach Billy Slater's calls for the NRL to step in and protect Reece Walsh, but added that it's something he'll have to deal with "for the rest of his career".

Walsh was kept to 153m in 20 runs and one line break as the Blues won the State of Origin Shield back in Wednesday night's decider but Slater claimed the fullback had been "getting hit a fair bit without the footy".

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He also appeared to call for the NRL to do something about it after the series was bookended by ugly claims surrounding the speedy fullback.

Walsh was the player hit high by Joseph Sua'ali'i in Game 1 that led to the debutant's send off in the seventh minute, before Slater suggested the hit was a "bad look" as the Maroons seethed over the drama.

Post-match, Walsh was seen covered in ice as he looked to recover for a potential club match for the Broncos as they look to arrest a six-game losing streak that has the side in danger of missing the finals.

Although the Broncos are set to welcome back halfback Adam Reynolds, after suffering a biceps injury in round 9, the club are also hoping their Origin players will back up as the side potentially need to win six of their last seven to make the playoffs.

Walsh suffered for his state. Photo: Getty Images

Speaking to Nova's Ash, Luttsy and Susie O'Neill on Friday, coach Kevin Walters echoed Slater's comments but admitted "there's not much" anyone can do to stop other sides targeting Walsh.

"With Walshy and his standing in the game now - and you (O'Neill) know about this as much as anyone with the pressure that he's under - for him to just to be himself and be his best, he's just got to relax and just get that pressure out of his head about being the superstar," Walter said.

"Everyone targets him, and that's going to be a thing for the rest of his career. So we've got to work out ways, and Reese has got to work out ways of how we can protect him. The NRL certainly has to look at it as well.

"But Reece is a tough young kid and his best work is still in front of him. He's still finding out about himself and his skills and how he can apply them in games. And at the moment it just not quite working for him but I'm sure that it's not far away where he just explodes again and brings the team and club alive again." 

Asked about whether he'd look to give Walsh a rest after an intense Origin decider, Walters quipped: "I've held his head under the ice bath for the last two hours trying to get him good, he'll be right.

"He's from Nerang, they breed 'em tough there." 

Speaking later, Walters said Walsh looked ready to go.

"He’s fine; he’s got the shirt off at training today. That’s always a good indicator that he’s ready to go," Walters said.

Kevin Walters at Broncos training. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Reece Walsh with his daughter Leila. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Walters also revealed Maroons metre leader Pat Carrigan would also likely back up, despite having played with ankle injuries through Game 3.

Carrigan played all 80 minutes despite suffering the injury early in the match.

"He's a tough bugger though Patty, so he should be right," Walters told the Nova Breakfast show. "80 minutes in the Origin is a tremendous effort from him."

The 22-year-old Walsh has undoubtedly become one of the faces of the game but he struggled to truly put his mark on the Origin series as the Blues shut him down.

But despite carrying reigning Dally M Medallist Kalyn Ponga on the bench, Slater admitted he never considered replacing Walsh with the Knights custodian.

“He certainly was getting hit a fair bit without the footy, I think given the situation we were in on the scoreboard, having them both out there was our best option,” Slater said.

“They’ll review that (hit off the ball), I’m sure they’ll look at their own game. I just thought he was hit a little bit off the footy, that’s what I think.

“It’s a game of rugby league at State of Origin level, I’ve been out there I know what it’s like, I understand what he’s going through. It’s just the way it is, isn’t it.”

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans echoed his coach’s sentiments after the game and knew exactly what it felt like to be roughed up by the Blues.

“Billy can speak from experience. He has got a good view of what is going on at Origin level, so if he is saying something is going on, it is probably worth having a look at it,” he said.

“I have been through exactly what Reece has been through. You go through these periods where the opposition will try and come up with ways to stop you.

“Knowing the person he is, he has got the work ethic and the ability to overcome it. I have got so much belief in Reece Walsh.

“I feel like his series this year, as (his) second year in (Origin), is where you have to figure out different ways to beat an opposition.”

Maroons coach Billy Slater speaks with Walsh. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Darren Lockyer, one of the game’s greatest fullbacks, said Walsh had to learn to deal with being a target but the NRL had to stamp out illegal tactics.

“Niggling tactics in Origin are always going to be there,” Lockyer said.

“From Reece’s perspective, he already knows he is going to be a target so it’s just how he manages it. He just can’t let it affect his performance.

“He is still young and the mindset from NSW would have been to try and unsettle him. Reece will have to contend with that most of his career – the attention.

“It doesn’t mean the referees should allow it. They should keep an eye on it, but Reece has to know because he is so good he will get that extra attention and he will need to manage it.”

Originally published as 'Everyone targets him': Undeniable Reece Walsh truth laid bare