Reece Walsh stars in Origin audition amid Warriors’ double injury blow

Brisbane’s Reece Walsh did his Origin hopes no harm while the Warriors suffered two major injuries in their clash at Suncorp Stadium.

The Broncos beat the Warriors 26-12 on the back of a starring display from Reece Walsh in his Origin audition amid two big injury blows for the visitors at Suncorp Stadium.

Walsh finished with 103 metres, five tackle busts, two offloads, a linebreak assist and a try assist to put his hand up to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga in game three.

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The Warriors lost their second straight game with the defeat compounded by injuries to fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and halfback Luke Metcalf.

Adam Reynolds produced a pinpoint grubber for Kotoni Staggs to dive over and give the Broncos an early lead.

Reece Walsh (left) and Ezra Mam after the Broncos’ victory. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Later, Ezra Mam came up with a pinpoint cut-out pass to put Josiah Karapani over for his fifth try in three games to extend the Broncos’ lead.

The Warriors gifted the Broncos a penalty goal from a ruck infringement allowing Reynolds to make it 12-0 to the home side.

Metcalf looked to have set up a try for halves partner Chanel Harris-Tavita, but replays showed he didn’t get the ball down.

Walsh, in his State of Origin audition, then produced a perfectly timed short ball to put Gehamat Shibasaki over on the stroke of half-time as the Broncos took a commanding lead.

Making matters worse for the Warriors, Nicoll-Klokstad later suffered a knee injury trying to make a tackle on Shibasaki and did not return after half-time.

Gehamat Shibasaki scores a try for the Broncos. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Luke Metcalf is taken from the field with a knee injury. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

But the Warriors, as they have done all season, fought through the adversity as Adam Pompey produced the last pass for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to score in the corner after a brilliant long ball from Metcalf in the lead up as the Warriors got on the board.

Walsh was then taken out chasing a Reynolds kick gifting the Broncos a penalty goal to make it 20-6, even though the Brisbane fullback appeared off-side.

While Brisbane looked to be cruising at that point, Leka Halasmia then soared high to latch onto a kick from Harris-Tavita to give the Warriors a sniff at a late comeback.

But then in a further blow for the Warriors, Metcalf came from the field with a knee injury as Brendan Piakura was placed on report for a late hit on the halfback.

Mam and Reynolds combined to put Shibasaki over for a double as the Broncos sealed their third straight win to move back to fifth on the ladder.

WALSH STAMPS ORIGIN CLAIMS

With Ponga sensationally ruled out of the Origin decider because of a lisfranc injury suffered on Friday night, Walsh is right in the frame to earn a recall to the rep arena.

Walsh is only a few weeks back from a PCL injury, which was still giving him a little bit of grief last week, but since he’s returned, his form has been very good.

Against the Warriors, Walsh was very lively.

“That was probably Walsh’s best game of the season,” Michael Ennis said.

“Things were happening around Reece Walsh today.”

For Maroons coach Billy Slater, his two fullback options to replace Ponga are Walsh or shifting Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow from the wing.

After the Broncos star’s performance against the Warriors, you’d have to think Slater will be leaning heavily towards Walsh.

Originally published as Reece Walsh stars in Origin audition amid Warriors’ double injury blow