Weekend Read: The moment a young Reece Walsh fell in love with the Brisbane Broncos

Reece Walsh’s ability to overcome mistakes is complemented by boundless belief in his own ability. At times, it has prompted claims of arrogance.

Brisbane Broncos star Reece Walsh. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Rodney and Jodie Walsh packed the car and hit the road on Thursday morning. Their plan was to pull in at Port Macquarie, have a rest and then finish the trip to Sydney on Friday afternoon.

They have learned to leave their son Reece to his own devices in the lead-up to big games but at some point prior to Sunday night, Rodney will call his boy and give him the same advice he has given him for much of his career.

“Be you and do what you do,” Rodney will say. Sounds simple, but it seems to be doing the trick. Reece Walsh has backed himself all year and now he stands on the verge of inspiring a remarkable renaissance for the biggest club in the game.

Rod Walsh (back, left) and his son Reece (front, right) with the under-6 Nerang Roosters in 2008.

The Broncos have been in the doldrums for too long but Walsh has been a catalyst for change, helping Brisbane become a powerhouse once again.

In doing so, he has edged closer to fulfilling a childhood dream, having fallen in love with the Broncos from the youngest of ages.

“His whole life – since he could talk,” Rodney said of his son’s love for the Broncos.

“He said ‘I like the horses, they go fast’.”

Jodie added: “From a very young age he has always wanted to be a Bronco. Sometimes you have to go with your heart and the Broncos are in his heart.”

The feeling is reciprocated with the way Broncos fans have embraced Walsh. He is part-footballer, part-rock star in Brisbane, his good looks and freakish talents threatening to transcend the club and the code.

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys this week suggested Walsh could become a global star for rugby league, insisting his good looks and talent could help the code in its bid to crack the lucrative American market.

Rodney and Jodie Walsh on their way to Sydney for the NRL grand final.

While that may be a lofty goal, there is no denying the impact he has had in his short first grade career. He plays with a sense of joie de vivre, taking chances and brushing off mistakes with a shrug of the shoulders and a grim determination to fire another shot.

He isn’t afraid to fail, the words of his father no doubt ringing in his ears.

“That is just confidence,” Rodney said.

“I have always taught them to just have confidence in yourself. Just keep trying. If you don’t try, you don’t make a mistake.”

The ability to overcome mistakes is complemented by boundless belief in his own ability. At times, it has prompted claims of arrogance.

“Like nothing phases him,” Jodie said.

“You know people think he has this arrogance and cockiness. That didn’t come with the NRL. That is just him.

“He has always been confident in himself and what he does, especially on the football field. That is not new to him. We were actually saying the other day that hasn’t changed that much.

“We get to hear so many people’s opinions now. People have that opinion. But he hasn’t changed.”

Confidence isn’t an issue for Reece Walsh. Picture: Nigel Hallett

What has changed is his profile in Brisbane, having returned from the Warriors and taken the club and the game by storm. The Broncos have had a succession of stars over the years and Walsh is already being compared favourably with them.

At the tender age of 21, he is only starting to scratch the surface of his potential – his parents always believed he would make his mark but even they have been caught off guard by the rapid ascent.

He is a marketer’s dream and the sky is seemingly the limit.

“It is funny to walk through Brisbane and see your son on a light pole,” Rodney said.

“I was like ‘wow, he is at the Broncs and they are loving him’. Just proud of him. There are guys who have played football for 15 years and never made a grand final.

“It is a big honour for him.”

Even bigger if the Broncos manage to win their first grand final in 17 years on Sunday night.

“As you know it can be cruel out there,” Jodie said.

Walsh at Circular Quay on Thursday. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I think he handles things really well considering his age. It has sort of happened so quickly. I think he has adjusted pretty well.

“He is living his dream and we get to go along for that ride as well.”

IVAN THE INCREDIBLE EYES IMMORTALITY

Three years ago he was being derided as the modern-day Brian Smith – a great coach who couldn’t get his side over the line when it counted.

On Sunday night, Penrith mentor Ivan Cleary has the chance to do what none of the modern-day greats have done. Not Wayne Bennett, not Craig Bellamy and not Trent Robinson.

Winning one premiership is hard, winning two almost impossible. Winning three in a row in the days of the salary cap and talent equalisation borders on inconceivable.

If Cleary can pull this one off, he deserves a place in the pantheon. He deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Bellamy and Robinson. Not quite Bennett just yet.

Yes, he has been blessed with a great halfback and inordinate amount of talent emerging from the foot of the mountains.

But Bennett basically had an entire state to himself during his halcyon days and the best he could do was two in a row.

Bellamy has managed miracles in a foreign land with an ungodly commitment to excellence, an eye for talent and a system that turns good players into great ones.

Ivan Cleary is within touching distance of a third Provan-Summons trophy. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Robinson has been blessed by having the financial might of the Roosters at his disposal alongside a chair in Nick Politis who knows only one way – the winning one.

For all their tactical acumen, none have been able to win three premierships on the trot. Now it is Cleary’s turn to take a shot and he has every chance to go the extra mile as he homes in on Accor Stadium on Sunday night.

Cleary copped plenty of flak when he walked out on the Wests Tigers all those years ago, including a fair share from this columnist. Tigers fans will never forgive him yet when you look at what he has achieved, you can understand why he opted to head down that path.

He has gone from being a good coach to a great one. He stands on the cusp of history and he is far from finished. He is already among the best coaches of his generation. He may end his career with a better resume than them all.

Not bad. Not bad at all.