Reece Walsh is a riddle, wrapped in an enigma that is livestreamed on YouTube

Reece Walsh may just be the coolest cat in rugby league - and he’s certainly the most popular - which is why the Brisbane star’s occasional miss-steps are molehills which quickly become mountains, writes Brent Read.

On Thursday afternoon, having put his hand up and accepted that he had crossed the line after a video went viral of him clipping a mate across the ear, Brisbane superstar Reece Walsh was back on social media.

This time, it was a more wholesome message. Accompanying a series of pictures of Walsh and his daughter - as well as one of a bloke who looked suspiciously like the mate he punched in the melon as part of a bet - was the missive: “DONT FORGET WHY WE ALL OUT HERE DOIN THIS.”

He threw in a few emojis as well. One of the earth, another of a heart and a third of a tree. Truth be told, emojis have never been an area of expertise. I get the heart but not sure about the tree and earth.

Reece Walsh: Scallywag, loving dad and role model.

Anyway, it was a step in the right direction. A nod to family, football and friends, three things that should be the priority in Walsh’s life right now as he deals with the fallout of a joke gone wrong.

Walsh has had a tumultuous season. His form has dipped in a Brisbane side that is battling to find any consistency. He has been injured in recent weeks and lost his Queensland jersey to Kalyn Ponga as a result.

With all that going on, he has also launched his own YouTube channel - the first episode has attracted more than 27,000 views since being posted this week - and described himself as just a young kid from Nerang who liked to kick the footy around.

A normal bloke apparently. Loves footy and family. Then, in the next breath, Walsh spoke about being a role model. A light for young kids chasing a dream. An inspiration.

And therein lies a conundrum for Walsh, a dilemma that he is still clearly grappling to get his head around. Normal blokes don’t have 27,000 people watch their YouTube channel in four days. If that was the case, we’d all do it and watch the cash roll in.

Normal blokes don’t have more than 500,000 followers on Instagram or more than 400,000 followers on Tik Tok. Yes, normal blokes occasionally play pranks, sometimes involving play-fighting or wrestling.

Normal blokes can do that because no-one really cares. It doesn’t become front and back page news. It doesn’t cause outrage or indignation from club officials. It doesn’t become a viral sensation and leave concussion experts in a flap.

Sadly, at least where Walsh is concerned, he is no longer a normal bloke. He is a rugby league superstar and in this country, at least on the eastern seaboard, that means your every move is dissected and analysed.

Walsh does so much right. He seems to be a caring and diligent father. He clearly does loads we don’t see to promote the game and his club.

Aside from being a hell of a footballer, he has become a pied piper or sorts for young rugby league fans. They adore him. They worship his every move. Even silly ones like that which occurred this week.

Which brings me to a story a mate told me in recent days about his young son. Apparently he is a huge fan of Walsh. Keeps an eye on everything he does.

Adores the Brisbane No.1. Thinks he is the coolest thing since sliced bread. You know what he wants to watch at the moment? Not clips of Reece dazzling opponents, showing off his God-given skills or even snippets of him playing golf with Cam Smith.

He wants to watch that video of Reece clipping his mate across the ear. Just because it’s Reece Walsh. He should be watching Walsh’s sidestep or swerve.

Instead he wants to see his right hook. And that’s not cool.

Reece Walsh art by Boo Bailey

* * * * *

Liam Martin is happy to play the villain. Looking forward to it actually. Martin will be in the crosshairs of Queensland fans at Suncorp Stadium next week - he always is - and he is relishing the thought.

Stir up the Maroons? Of course. Reignite his feud with Cameron Munster? Yes please. You Queensland fans want someone to boo? Feel free to go after Martin.

It just spurs him on. If anyone in a sky blue jersey is going to bring the fire and brimstone, it’s the kid from Temora who got a reminder of what a NSW victory means when he went home after the series was over last season.

Martin waltzed into Temora and got a slap in the face as he was feted by the local community. He didn’t need it - but it was a reminder of what the jersey means not just to him, but also the people of his home town.

Liam Martin (centre) scuffles with Pat Carrigan during game two of the 2024 Origin series. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve thought about this actually pretty deeply and it’s just representing my family, all their sacrifices that they’ve made for me, as well as the community I grew up in,” Martin said.

“Temora, it’s a small, close-knit group and I just know how proud I am to be from there and I want to make those people back there proud of me.

“Love my community, love my family, love the state and every time I get that jersey it’s special. Up there - the enormity of it - when you sort of went home after that game (last year) and everyone was just talking about how proud they were.

“It was pretty special. As I said, they absolutely love footy back there. They live and breathe it. And when you go back there, I’ve got mates with kids that want to get photos.

“I’m mates with their dads and stuff. It’s pretty cool, it’s pretty special, the impact that you have on them.

Liam Martin brings plenty of fire and passion to the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

“You just hope that they’re looking up to me and proud, and I want to make them proud.”

So far, so good. Martin is about to play his 13th game for NSW and it is hard to remember a bad one. He has become a leader in the Blues forward pack, setting the bar with his fire and aggression.

When the Blues need a spark, Martin invariably provides it. It might mean getting under the skin of Munster. Or laying the smack down on mate J’maine Hopgood. Or just getting a bit niggly to inspire his teammates. Whatever it takes.

“I just love that sort of hostile environment,” Martin said.

“I think it brings out the best in you. It’s just you and your 17 teammates out on the field, everyone else is sort of against you and all you got is just your brothers out there.

“You just gotta have each other’s backs. I know it’s just a game of footy at the end of the day (but) I love it. I enjoy it. I embrace it. So I look forward to it again.”

Originally published as Reece Walsh is a riddle, wrapped in an enigma that is livestreamed on YouTube