Billy Slater defends Reece Walsh’s mixed start to NRL season

Reece Walsh has been criticised by some over his underwhelming start to the NRL season for Brisbane. Queensland coach Billy Slater points out what he’s seen from the Broncos star.

Queensland coach Billy Slater has addressed speculation Reece Walsh’s Origin spot is under threat as Brisbane’s superstar fullback fights to stave off Newcastle champion Kalyn Ponga.

Ponga is turning up the heat on Walsh, who goes into Saturday night’s clash against the Warriors under mounting pressure to find peak form after a patchy start to 2025.

Walsh faces a hostile reception from Warriors fans.

It will be his first game on New Zealand soil against his former Warriors club after being granted a release two years ago to return to Brisbane for family reasons.

Walsh was outpointed by NSW rival James Tedesco in last week’s 26-16 loss to the Roosters, who targeted the Broncos fullback with a series of high kicks.

The forensic Slater would have been watching closely as the Roosters peppered Walsh with bombs, including one in which Billy Smith outjumped the Broncos custodian to score the opening try.

Reece Walsh has endured an underwhelming start to the NRL season. Picture: NRL Photos

Walsh is Queensland’s incumbent fullback, playing all three games last season, but Ponga’s recall to the bench for Game Three was a sign the Knights ace is still firmly on Slater’s radar.

Walsh has attracted criticism after 16 errors in the first six rounds, including nine in two games against Canberra and the Cowboys.

But Slater is not concerned by talk of a form slump.

The Maroons mentor believes Walsh is becoming a more complete fullback as he and Ponga slug it out for the Queensland No.1 jumper in the lead up to Origin I on May 28.

“It’s a great thing for Queensland that we have quality players of the likes of those two (Walsh and Ponga) who are performing well at club level,” Slater said.

“Reece is developing his game, I really do believe that.

“He is adding different parts to his game that may be hard to see at times because he brings so much brilliance to his footy team and that’s the exciting part.

“Sometimes when you don’t bring all that brilliance every time, you can suggest that Reece is not playing as well as he has.

“But I see other dimensions to his game growing and that’s a lot of the stuff without the football in hand.”

Will Walsh keep the No.1 jumper? Picture: Steve Pohlner

While Walsh’s bomb-defusal rate is a worrying 47 per cent – well behind the safer Ponga at 71 per cent – Slater has been impressed with the Broncos flyer’s commitment and line organisation.

“Defensively, he is doing a great job,” Slater said.

“Reece is increasing his knowledge to that side of the game and he is helping his team defend their tryline better.

“Seeing all of that stuff progress is great because I know from my time with him that Reece is a really hard worker.

“I have a lot of time for him. He wants to be as good as he possibly can.

“When you see that and you see those rewards on the field and you see those little developments, Reece is heading in the right direction.”

Slater said he didn’t feel the need to personally speak to Walsh or Ponga to underline the importance of performing one month out from the selection of Origin I.

“I saw Reece in round 1 at the (Roosters) game,” Slater said.

“Apart from some of the Queensland players I see at games and say hello, I haven’t gone out of my way to talk to players.

“They know the standard of the Queensland team. I haven’t really pushed the communication with the players as yet, I’m just letting them play their footy.”

The resurgent Ponga is giving Slater an Origin selection migraine.

The Knights skipper was Queensland’s first-choice fullback in 2022 before a series of concussions placed his NRL career in jeopardy and opened the door for Walsh’s Maroons baptism at the back.

Kalyn Ponga has had a solid start to the season. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Now the 27-year-old is back in business and Slater warned NSW there is scope for Ponga and Walsh to both be in his top 17 for the series opener at Suncorp Stadium.

“Absolutely. Both have been extremely influential in the two series they played in 2022 and 2023,” Slater said.

“I can be pretty flexible with Kalyn.

“I am loving just seeing him getting consistently out on the field and playing footy.

“That’s the biggest thing for Kalyn. He has had a pretty tough run considering the series he had in 2022, and the next time he was available for selection for Queensland was in Game Three last year.

“There’s five games in between where he was unavailable and he looks like he is really settled in his leadership role at Newcastle.

“His performances have been pretty good this year.”

Originally published as Billy Slater defends Reece Walsh’s mixed start to NRL season