NRL finals: Broncos whiz-kid ready to storm through finals and end almost-lifelong drought
Reece Walsh was only four when the Broncos last won an NRL premiership in 2006. It’s made him hellbent on being part of the Brisbane team that finally ends the drought.
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Broncos superstar Reece Walsh has warned the Storm he is ready to find another gear in the finals and make a “statement” in his bid to bring an NRL premiership back to Brisbane.
Walsh has been one of the standout stars of the NRL season but the 21-year-old whiz-kid says there is more magic to come _ starting in Friday night‘s qualifying final against Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium.
Rested for last week’s final-round 32-22 loss the Storm, Walsh will be unleashed in the playoffs and the Queensland Origin sensation insists he is not yet satisfied with his season as Brisbane look to snap a 17-year title drought.
The jury was out on Walsh in his return to Brisbane this year after a difficult second season at former club the Warriors, but the flying fullback has dispelled any doubts with some sizzling form that he plans to ramp up over the next month.
“Coming home to Brissy, I wanted to make a statement and show people I deserve to be in the NRL and to put on this Broncos jersey,” Walsh said.
“Coming into last year, (he suffered) second-year syndrome, it was harder to maintain the consistency, but I feel like having a really good pre-season has set me up for a big year.
“I feel like it‘s been pretty good, but the competition starts again now and I will work twice as hard in the finals and really nail down my job.”
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As a kid, Walsh dreamt of winning a premiership in Broncos colours.
The Nerang Roosters junior was four years old when Brisbane last won the NRL title in 2006, but Walsh is hellbent on being part of the Broncos team that finally smashes the drought and delivers a seventh premiership to Red Hill.
“It would mean everything (to win a premiership),” he said.
“You come out to play and you want to win.
“You don’t want to be content just playing first grade.
“If you don’t come in to want to win premierships and win stuff, then you aren’t in the right place.
“We have a really good opportunity to do it this year, so we just have to keep working hard for each other.
“I think we can go a long way in the finals.”
Asked if he fears the Storm, who have won 14 consecutive games over Brisbane, Walsh said: “No, I don’t.
“We have got an awesome team and an awesome squad here.
“We have shown that throughout the year and it is just about building on what we’ve done and taking it to another level.”
In the wake of his suspension for abusing a referee in June, Walsh sought the help of a sports psychologist.
The professional help, coupled with the mentoring of skipper Adam Reynolds, has helped him realise his importance to the side, and the repercussions of his actions and body language on the field.
“It was massive that period, sitting those three games out and missing Origin,” he said of his suspension.
“Any help I am getting outside (the club), it will be beneficial for myself and better than not getting anything.
“So if there’s an expert that can help me get through those times and grow as a person, it’s exciting and something that with my nature, I need.”
“Someone to lean on and talk to outside of footy, it‘s good when you talk to people inside the four walls and it’s good to get a voice outside the club to help you grow.
“Being in the position and the role I play in the team, it‘s really infectious among the group, the way I carry myself on the field.
“Being a spine member, people look at you and need to trust your voice, your decisions and everything that you do.
“Sometimes me losing my head isn‘t the best thing for the team.”
“I‘m still young and I’m still learning and I’ll probably still have some snaps in my every now and then.
“But I find myself pulling myself back a bit more and the leaders in the team are helping me in that area of my game a lot more.
“When ‘Reyno’ sat out some of the games, he was in my ear a bit that the boys need me a little bit more than usual and I have to be calm and use my voice a bit more in the good areas instead of blowing up a fair bit.
“It‘s been good, I’m looking forward to growing as a person.”
Walsh is adamant Brisbane have the roster, hunger and skill set to win this year‘s title.
“We work hard for each other,” he said.
“We go at and give our all.
“We don‘t want to let each other down or our fans down.
“It is about showing everyone we are a genuine team. I felt like we have done that through this year.
“We are going into finals with a new comp starting and we will pretty much start from scratch again.”
Red alert: Cleary reveals why Panthers fear Broncos
Panthers champion Nathan Cleary believes Brisbane will make this year’s grand final and fears the Broncos have the strikepower to gatecrash Penrith’s planned party for a hat-trick of NRL premierships.
The NRL officially launched the 2023 finals series in Sydney on Monday and the code’s No. 1 player, Cleary, says the Panthers are on red alert for a Broncos team hungry to snap a 17-year premiership drought.
Penrith are favourites with bookmakers to become the first side in 40 years to celebrate an NRL ‘Three-Peat’, a feat that would see them emulate the golden Parramatta sides of 1981-83.
But Cleary concedes the resurgent Broncos possess the playmaking brilliance of Adam Reynolds and the game-breaking magic of Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam to bring Penrith’s title dynasty crashing down.
Asked which side he believes could face Penrith in this year’s decider at Homebush on October 1, Cleary said: “I think the Broncos have been red hot all year.
“They’ve got a lot of X-factor.
“They’re an exciting team, but they’ve also got a great forward pack with Adam Reynolds leading the way.
“They’re a top-tier team, but the finals are a whole new ball game so it’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.”
Brisbane’s performances against Penrith in the regular season this year suggest the Broncos have no reason to fear the two-time premiers.
The Broncos produced a boilover in the opening round of the 2023 premiership, shocking the Panthers 13-12 at Penrith without star fullback Reece Walsh, who missed the game with a fractured cheekbone.
In the return bout at Suncorp Stadium in round 12, Penrith exacted revenge 15-4, although the Broncos were missing key halfback Adam Reynolds due to concussion.
The Broncos are the one side with the attacking weapons to unlock Penrith’s defensive wall and Reynolds has no doubt Brisbane could topple the Panthers on the big day.
“We definitely have the team to win it,” he said.
“We have shown through the season that we can compete with the best teams in the competition. We can beat the best teams.
“I think Penrith are the team to beat. They have been there and done it before. They have been the form team of the competition for the last four or five years, they have big-game players and a lot of experience in that team.
“Nathan Cleary is one of the best players in the competition, they are a team that relies heavily on their systems and they do it so well.
“Their best game isn’t too far away from their worst game, so they are a very consistent team, but we have to embrace this challenge that has been tossed up.”
Cronulla captain Wade Graham agreed with Cleary’s assessment of the Broncos, who finished the regular season with as many wins (18) as the Panthers.
“It’s hard to go past the Penrith juggernaut because they’re so impressive with how they go about their business,” he said.
“I’ve played some good teams over the years, but they (Penrith) are up there.
“I can see Brisbane causing some issues if they get to play out of Suncorp.
“They’re exciting, they’ve got big, strong forwards, their backline is as exciting as anyone’s and they’ve got Adam Reynolds steering the ship.”
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