NRL 2021: Broncos ready to unveil another superstar in teenage fullback Reece Walsh

Lockyer, Hunt, Boyd ... the Broncos have a history of producing great fullbacks and now another young gun is ready to make the famous No.1 jumper his own.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos July 14, 2020 Reece Walsh, L, and Xavier Coates, R, during the Broncos training session in Brisbane. Picture NCA NewsWire/ Tertius Pickard

Meet Reece Walsh, the Broncos’ version of Billy Slater.

A fullback sensation so talented even Titans culture boss Mal Meninga admits he is “dirty” to have lost the Gold Coast product to the Broncos.

The 18-year-old Walsh is rated a future NRL superstar and will run out with a Broncos senior team for the first time in Brisbane’s opening trial against Wynnum Manly at Kitchener Park on Friday night.

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A raking left foot is just part of Reece Walsh’s talent package.

The Queensland under-16s and under-18s sensation has been a revelation in pre-season and will wear the No.1 jumper against the Seagulls in his first step towards a possible NRL debut later this year.

By rights, Walsh should be a Titan. He attended Keebra Park High and was a member of the Tweed Heads side which beat Illawarra to win the national under-18s crown in 2019, but Broncos scouts moved quickly to snap up Walsh in Gold Coast’s backyard.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has been blown away by Walsh’s speed, step, swagger, slick passing game and toughness, qualities that has Meninga pondering his latest poaching raid on Brisbane after stealing David Fifita.

“Reece is a special kid,” Meninga said ahead of Walsh’s Wynnum outing.

“To be honest, I was a bit dirty we lost him to the Broncos because he is a Gold Coast kid and he should be in our system.

“He was with Keebra Park and the Broncos managed to get him on a development contract.

“If Reece is off-contract, we’d be interested in getting him back. I’m mindful we have AJ Brimson on our books already, but Reece can really play the game.”

Mindful of poaching threats, the Broncos are in the process of securing Walsh to a longer-term contract.

Walsh has been described as a’special kid’ by none other than Mal Meninga.

Like Broncos fullback and five-eighth legend Darren Lockyer, Walsh has a left-foot kick with the blinding acceleration and quick-stepping that catapulted him into the Australian Schoolboys side two years ago.

Former Queensland Origin lock Scott Sattler has watched Walsh in his role as Channel Nine‘s expert commentator on the Intrust Super Cup and likens the teenage flyer to Storm icon Slater.

“Reece Walsh is going to be an NRL sensation. He is the closest thing I have seen to Billy Slater,” he said.

“He has amazing speed and blinding acceleration and a similar running style to Billy.

“I first saw Reece playing for Keebra Park when he was 15. He just had this beautiful deception and awareness for the game. He didn’t mind contact and he covers a lot of territory at the back. Returning the ball, he would pick up top speed in three or four metres.

“Reece is the feelgood story the Broncos need. He has been in their junior ranks for a couple of years. Karmichael Hunt made his debut at 17 for the Broncos and he had some amazing attributes, but I reckon Reece has more at the same age.

Walsh could soon get the chance to team up with Xavier Coates.

“He is a fully-fledged fullback and I believe he is good enough to be playing NRL this year.”

Broncos teammate Tevita Pangai Jnr described Walsh as a rare talent.

“Reece has had a crazy off-season and he will be one to watch this year,” Pangai Jnr said.

“Once he gets the balance of his game right, he is going to be special.

“He likes to attack on every play but when he gets that balance right, he will be brilliant.

“He is bloody tough, he stops a lot of tries at training so he‘s not afraid to put his body on the line.

“He has a huge future in the game.”