Broncos superstar is taking NRL into a box office era we’ve never seen before
With his green eyes, Hollywood looks and mass social media following, Reece Walsh has become an NRL phenomenon. And a leading celebrity agent believes he could pocket a staggering $40m over his rugby league career.
With his chiselled looks and one million social media followers, Reece Walsh will earn a staggering $40m from his rugby league career, according to celebrity agent Max Markson.
Walsh’s green eyes and Hollywood looks is taking rugby league into a glamorous new generation – a box office era we’ve never seen before in the game.
Do not underestimate what Walsh is doing for rugby league – he has become a phenomenon.
He boasts a mass social media patronage through 560,000 Instagram followers and 425,800 TikTok followers. He pulled 160,000 views for a simple video he posted playing golf alongside Australian golfer Cam Smith.
Walsh even launched his own YouTube channel at the start of this season, which has attracted almost 16,000 subscribers.
Hysterical young female fans literally scream when they see Walsh, who stayed back for more than an hour taking selfies and signing autographs after a game this season in Newcastle.
Walsh has established himself as a genuine NRL rock star and will be the key reason why Brisbane secure more support than Melbourne Storm in Sunday night’s grand final.
“He could earn $40m by the time he retires – he won’t need to work again,” said Markson.
“Walsh could earn more than $1m a year on the field but double that off the field. He’s young, good looking and pulls the crowds and girls in, and that’s really important for the NRL.
“He has another ten years in the game and will become one of the wealthiest rugby league players in Australia. He will get paid serious money.
“He will get additional long-term deals. If he’s getting a million dollars a year now, then he will double it up and double it up. He will literally get millions and millions of dollars.”
Johnny Raper was rugby league’s first celebrity.
A Cleo magazine centrefold model who sang on Rugby League’s New Faces variety show in the 1970s, the immortal Raper appeared on TV commercials for Jax The Ripper tyres and even made a record, ‘Ave a Go Mate’.
Craig Wing was a poster boy at Souths and the Roosters between 1998 and 2009 while being crowned Cleo Bachelor of the Year in 2000.
Andrew Ettingshausen was the face of rugby league during the 1980s and ‘90s and has his own fishing TV show while appearing in Tina Turner’s iconic Simply The Best advertising campaign.
With his long flowing air, Russell Fairfax was Easts Roosters’ golden haired boy during the mid-1970s while chisel-featured Luke Ricketson rocked the same club 20 years later.
But none offer the same appeal as Walsh, who brings a celebrity-like culture to the Broncos.
It is difficult for some punters who have been around rugby league for decades – myself included – to relate to a brash Walsh. He’s a different cat who is cocksure and wears finger nail polish.
Imagine asking Les Boyd, Steve Roach or Tom Raudonikis whether they would wear nail polish to a game? You would have copped a smack in the chops.
But senior followers of the game have to realise that times have changed and Walsh must be embraced, not ridiculed just because he doesn’t fit the mould from the 1980s.
Rugby Australia has taken Joseph Suaalii and Mark Nawaqanitawase but who cares when rugby league has Reece Walsh, the envy of all Australian sporting codes.
“Reece is next level,” said Braith Anasta, another former footy heart-throb.
“He’s a rock star. He’s a marvel on the field, a good-looking guy and he’s in this new age of social media which is such a big platform to reach so many people, not only in Australia but across the world.”
Away from the spotlight, Walsh is family-oriented and dotes over his young daughter, Leila, who was born in 2021. He says he would prefer to complete humble tasks like mowing his lawn than attend a top-end-of-town party.
But Walsh actually thrives on stardom.
The adulation and adoration can become a drug for young stars.
Many slide away through ill-fated notoriety but Walsh – thanks to Leila – appears to have a vice-like grip on his future and the work he must complete to stay successful.
“He is a star already but must stay focused on his footy – that’s more important than anything,” Markson said.
There’s no escaping Walsh as a football player thrives on a big stage in the big games.
He is already a pin-up boy whose stature in the game will elevate to dizzy new levels if he can lead Brisbane to a premiership triumph.
The rock star is ready to entertain.
ATKINS REWARDED
Grant Atkins will referee the NRL grand final – a decision which should send a clear message through the entire NRL refereeing ranks.
Let the game flow and you will get the rewards.
Ashley Klein’s stop-start performance in Friday night’s preliminary final – which included 18 penalties and just 22 minutes of ball-in-play during the first half – cost him the grand final.
Conversely, Atkins allowed Sunday’s big game in Brisbane to roll along and look at what we got – an epic game.
Adam Gee did a brilliant job by putting his whistle away in the unforgettable 2023 grand final so let’s hope Atkins follows that lead.
The only criticism of Atkins last weekend was his failure to sin bin Penrith’s Liam Martin, who rushed in to protect his halfback, Nathan Cleary.
For goodness sake, it was a preliminary final and Martin shouldn’t have been banished.
Atkins again showed he had a feel for the game and the occasion.
I fully understand penalties have to be blown for infringements but there are also moments when a ref can just yell: ‘Play on’. If we stop for every tiny infringement then we become rugby union.
My plea to you, Grant, is to referee with control and authority but keep your whistle in your pocket.
If you do that, Sunday’s big game should be one of the great grand finals.
More Coverage
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout