Michael Maguire declares Reece Walsh is ready for a Queensland recall for State of Origin III

Michael Maguire has declared Reece Walsh ready for a State of Origin recall as the Brisbane coach backed his fullback superstar to ignite the Broncos’ late-season charge to the top four.

Michael Maguire has declared Reece Walsh ready for a State of Origin recall as the Brisbane coach backed his fullback superstar to ignite the Broncos’ late-season charge to the top four.

Walsh will lodge one final audition for Kalyn Ponga’s Queensland No.1 jumper in Saturday night’s clash against the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.

Queensland coach Billy Slater will choose his team for the July 9 decider on Sunday night and Ponga is under pressure to hold his spot after two quiet Origin games at a time when Walsh has returned with a bang.

Back from a six-week knee injury, Walsh has been at the epicentre of Brisbane piling on 78 points in consecutive wins over the Titans and Sharks that have reignited his Queensland Origin selection hopes.

An unabashed fan of Walsh, Slater will find it hard to resist the 22-year-old if he carves up former club the Warriors and Maguire, NSW’s series-winning coach last season, says ‘Reece Lightning’ is primed to strike in Origin III.

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Michael Maguire says Reece Walsh is ready for an Origin recall. Picture: NRL Photos

“Last week he took a massive step into where I think he’s ready (for the Origin decider),” Maguire said of Walsh, who damaged his posterior cruciate ligament against the Warriors in round 7.

“I think he’s done that in the last couple of weeks.

“It’s just a matter of where the opportunity arises for him (to play for Queensland).

“Reece works really hard at his game. He’s actually good to have around.

“He just loves talking footy and he’s definitely my style (of player).

“We get to sit down and work out how we want to game plan and play.

“Whilst he’s doing that, I think he’s got plenty of good footy in front of him and opportunities.”

Walsh’s immediate ambition is maintaining the rage for a Brisbane side that has rocketed back into finals contention after snapping a form crisis blighted by six losses from seven games.

Entering round 17 in fifth spot, Brisbane (7-7) are six competition points adrift of the Warriors (10-4) and a top-four fightback becomes real if they dispose of the fourth-placed Kiwi outfit.

Asked if the Broncos can still qualify for the top four, a bullish Maguire said: “Definitely.

“I’ve said before – this competition is well and truly wide open.

“We’ve got to make sure we find our game like we did last week and the week before.

“We’ve taken a lot from the month where we didn’t get the spoils we were after.

“This is another good opportunity for us. We are playing against a good team, but we know what we’re capable of doing.

“If we find that, I’ll be pleased as a coach and playing group.”

The Broncos are desperate to atone for their gut-wrenching golden-point loss to the Warriors in April.

Walsh was the villain that night, kicking out on the full from the extra-time restart, gifting Warriors playmaker Luke Metcalf a superb match-winning penalty goal from halfway.

“I guess a lot of people say we can’t do it,” Maguire said of Brisbane’s belated bid to make the top four.

“This is in our hands to be able to go about what we want to do.

“There’s a lot of people who probably walk the streets and say we can’t do it.

“We’ll see how we go.”