‘Real X-factor’: Broncos star is born as Reece Walsh dominates on debut

NRL greats Greg Alexander and Cooper Cronk couldn’t believe what they saw from Reece Walsh in his first game for the Brisbane Broncos.

Scott Drinkwater's tackle marred a game dominated by Reece Walsh.

Reece Walsh gave away an early penalty but everything he touched after that second-minute transgression turned to gold in the Broncos’ 28-16 win over the Cowboys.

Walsh was denied a try assist in the first half when the Bunker found a lineball obstruction, but it mattered little.

The 20-year-old threw the second-last pass in the Broncos next try just after making a try-saving tackle on Tom Dearden.

Walsh’s second half proved even better than his first, setting up a try for Staggs with a pinpoint kick and then scoring one of his own.

The fullback was denied a double by millimetres at the death, falling just short of chasing down his own grubber to score.

“Reece Walsh was electric in the trial game against the Titans and then tonight when we’re playing for keeps, he comes out and completely tortured the Cowboys defensive line,” Ennis said.

“His classy touches in big moments were outstanding. He is a real X-factor for Brisbane.”

Greg Alexander and Cooper Cronk echoed the sentiment, praising one of the brightest young talents in the NRL.

“The focus should be on Reece Walsh because what he did for the Broncos in his debut game was stunning. It was stunning,” Alexander said.

“Reece Walsh announced himself here. I know he’s played footy with the Warriors, but tonight he was at a different pace to the rest of the players out there.

“There are in for a big season the Broncos and what a purchase this is going to be.

“Whether it was kick returns, whether it was getting the ball on the outside, whether it was setting up tries, everything he did tonight screamed, ‘I’m here’.”

Cronk praised Walsh after setting up the Staggs’ try: “He’s had some very classy touches in his very first game for the Brisbane Broncos, it’s the footy awareness, the sharp mind to step inside Val Holmes and put a nice delicate kick in.”

DRINKWATER FACING LONG SUSPENSION

Scott Drinkwater could be sidelined for as long as Corey Oates, with the Cowboys fullback a near-certainty to be suspended over his shoulder charge.

Drinkwater was desperately trying to stop Brisbane taking the lead when he came across in cover defence and collected Oats flush on the jaw with his shoulder.

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds questioned why Drinkwater wasn’t sent off, but the officials didn’t know the extent of Oates’ injury when making the call.

“He has a clean break,” Corey Parker said after the game.

“He’s in the emergency department as we speak and is going through scans to determine the diagnoses, whether there’s plates, whether there’s surgery, you would think Corey Oats would be out of the side for at least four to six weeks which is a huge blow given how good he was going.

“It’s a high-collision sport, Corey Oats is 6’3 and 110kgs trying to score a try. On the other hand Drinkwater was trying to stop a try, did he get it wrong? Possibly, and he’ll have to face the ramifications that come along with that.

“The match review committee will certainly look at that.”

Cooper Cronk added: “I suspect Scott Drinkwater is going to miss a lot of football in the next couple of weeks.”

But Cowboys coach Todd Payten went into bat for his fullback.

“It happened really quick, he came across the field and Corey changed direction really late,” Payten said.

“Scott was trying to stop a try, he had one foot on the deck and no intent to make collision where he got him but it was certainly an accident, his right arm was getting wrapped around the body and there was separation on his left.

“No intent in the whole thing, the kid was just doing his best to stop a try really quickly.”

NANAI PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF

Cowboys try-scoring machine Jeremiah Nanai hasn’t taken long to pick up where he left off in 2022.

Nanai made his NRL debut in Round 21 of 2021 and then scored 17 tries last year, the most in a season by a North Queensland forward in club history.

He was crowned the 2022 Dally M Rookie of the Year and looks set for another huge campaign after scoring a double against the Broncos.

The 20-year-old strategically re-signed for just 12 months this time last year, before earning selection for both the Maroons and Kangaroos.

Nanai appeared in all three games in Queensland’s State of Origin series victory in 2022 and two Tests for Australia in their successful World Cup campaign.

Then last month the backrower penned a lucrative four-year extension that will keep him at the Cowboys until the end of 2027.

Originally published as ‘Real X-factor’: Broncos star is born as Reece Walsh dominates on debut