State of Origin 2024: Maroons legend Darren Lockyer’s warning to Blues over Reece Walsh

Three of the greatest players to ever enter the Origin arena believe NSW will continue to target Maroons superstar Reece Walsh - but warn the Blues should proceed with caution when dealing with ‘Reece Lightning’.

Reece Walsh is assisted from the field in Game 1. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Reece Walsh was knocked out in Origin I. Now the Queensland wonder boy is primed to knock the stuffing out of NSW in Origin II.

Queensland Origin legends Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer have backed Walsh to overcome his concussion fears and lead the Maroons to a historic victory at the MCG on Wednesday night.

Walsh lasted just seven minutes in the series opener after being floored by a sickening high shot that saw Blues debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sent off and banned for four games.

After missing two club games for the Broncos, the flying fullback has been cleared for takeoff by Maroons doctors and ‘Reece Lightning’ is ready to strike with a vengeance before 90,000 fans in Melbourne.

Former Maroons skipper and Queensland selector Lockyer believes NSW will target Walsh again but says it would be a futile tactic against a young gun who relishes the high-octane pressures of State of Origin.

“NSW will still want to be physical with Reece, but if they try and bomb him, he will attack it, that’s the way he plays,” said Channel 9 expert Lockyer.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii irons out Reece Walsh. Picture: NRL Photos

“If it was me trying to overcome something like that (returning from concussion in Origin), my first play would be one where I am aggressive and go into it with confidence.

“That will alleviate any nerves Reece Walsh has got.

“I am always intrigued by the way teams defend against him. Are they going to be passive or come out of the line and try and take his time away?

“NSW showed their hand in game one with Reece.

“They came out of the line and got stuck into him to try and take his time away.

“Do they deploy the same tactics this game?

“There is not a lot of chinks in Queensland’s armour.”

Walsh has been battered by NRL rivals this season. He suffered a facial fracture in round 3 against Penrith and was knocked senseless by the Blues in Origin I, with teams clearly formulating game plans to rush-up on the Maroons maestro.

But Walsh insists he won’t be forced into changing his all-action style and he had a message for the Blues ahead of his Origin comeback - bring it on.

“If I had any doubts or was scared I wouldn’t pull on the Queensland jersey,” Walsh said.

“I know how much it means to the people of Queensland and past players.

“If I was scared or shy in any way I would pull myself out.

“They need a team that is willing to put their body on the line and do whatever it takes for their state.”

NSW playmaking legend Andrew Johns fears the Blues’ rough-house approach with Walsh could backfire at the MCG and only motivate the Queensland fullback to deliver a man-of-the-match performance.

“The narrative from Game One is that they went out to deliberately hurt Reece,” said Channel 9 analyst Johns.

“He (Walsh) will use it as motivation for sure.”

The Maroons can wrap up a hat-trick of titles by beating the Blues in straight sets and Lewis - the King of Origin - says the 21-year-old Walsh can engineer an MCG massacre.

“I expect NSW will go after him again, but that could go against them,” Lewis said.

“If they race out of the line and that opens up a bit of a hole, that could see Reece cash-in to the best of his ability.

“It would be common sense for NSW to test him out after his terrible injury, but Reece has the courage and determination to make Game Two a horror moment for the Blues.”