The real Reece Walsh: How the Maroons star has left nothing to chance for Origin comeback

It’s been over two weeks since Reece Walsh was knocked out of State of Origin I, but the Maroons star his working overtime on making his anticipated comeback in Game II.

He is the State of Origin rock star with the blue-collar mindset.

The actions of Reece Walsh at Maroons training on Saturday was evidence the Queensland fullback whizkid is leaving nothing to chance as he prepares to return from concussion and torment NSW in Origin II.

On the surface, it’s easy to see his good looks and debonair style and think Walsh is a rugby league pretty boy who has traded on style and talent in his rise to the code’s toughest arena.

But away from the cameras and the game-day spotlight, Walsh rolls up the sleeves and grinds harder than any player in Camp Maroon.

Reece Walsh during a Queensland State of Origin Training Session at Sanctuary Cove, as he prepares for his first game since being knocked out of Origin I. Picture: Getty Images

The Maroons trained for two hours at their Sanctuary Cove camp on the Gold Coast on Saturday. It was their most intense session yet.

Queensland coach Billy Slater drives relentless standards of excellence and no Maroon honours the creed more than Walsh.

While most of the Queensland team left the training paddock after full-time was called, a handful of Maroons stayed behind for extras.

Slowly the number trickled down to just one man. Coach Slater had enough. Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, famed for his hard work, was gone.

All that was left was ‘Reece Lightning’, still working, still tweaking, still finetuning.

For the next half-hour, he lined up shots at goal.

Reece Walsh was the last man left on the field training on Saturday. Picture: Peter Badel.

To finish off, he did drills in isolation, throwing balls at the XXXX pads on the goalposts to ensure his passing game is on point in the return bout at the MCG.

They say if you mix hard work and talent you have the makings of a champion.

Walsh is on the road to greatness.

“He just has the work ethic,” Maroons teammate Reuben Cotter said.

“He is a great player and one of the best this game has seen.

“He’s a real worker. I love the way he competes, he is always wanting to make his teammates and those around him want to be better.

“He is very competitive.”

Walsh lasted just seven minutes of Origin I after being knocked senseless by NSW debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Maroons teammate Reuben Cotter praised Reece Walsh’s work ethic. Picture: Chloe Davis/NRL Imagery.

The Broncos dynamo is itching to get stuck into the Blues before 90,000 fans in Melbourne and Maroons pivot Tom Dearden says Walsh has an insatiable appetite for improvement.

“It shows how hard he works on his game,” Dearden said of Walsh’s last-man standing effort at training on Saturday.

“The stuff he does on the weekend is miraculous, but it shows it’s not just a fluke.

“He is always out here working hard on his game and that’s why he plays so well on the weekends and in games.

“He obviously has the lightning speed, but just at training and even in games, he always wants to be in the game.

“That’s what makes him so special.

He puts himself in those positions to make plays and get the ball, he is certainly exciting and I’m looking forward to getting more game time with him.”

Slater, rugby league’s greatest ever fullback, relishes mentoring Walsh because he sees a kindred spirit.

“He is a wonderful player and he will continue to grow because of the person he is,” said Slater, who took part in Queensland’s Saturday session.

“He has got an incredible want to be as good as he possibly can and he has a real drive to do that, he has a great work ethic and you don’t get that a lot of the time when you get super talented players.

“He has done a fantastic job every time he has represented Queensland and the Queensland people. He has come a long way in a short period of time and I expect that to continue.”

Originally published as The real Reece Walsh: How the Maroons star has left nothing to chance for Origin comeback