NRL 2023 State of Origin Queensland Maroons | Door ajar for ‘explosive’ Reece Walsh Origin debut
Queensland coach Billy Slater hasn’t ruled out young Broncos fullback Reece Walsh from lining up in the No.1 Maroons jumper in game one, as doubt lingers over Kalyn Ponga’s future.
Speaking on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast, the Maroons great said Walsh had impressed him “since the first day I saw him play”.
“He grabs your attention … He’s so brilliant with the footy in hand,” Slater said.
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“He’s fast, he’s explosive and he just creates opportunities around him. So he’s easy to watch.”
Former Broncos fullback Darius Boyd has stepped in to mentor Walsh, who has scored three tries from his first two appearances for Brisbane.
Slater believes Boyd’s guidance could fast-track the 20-year-old into a Maroons jumper.
“Darius was one of the best positional fullbacks, and I think that’s what Reece needs to focus on,” Slater said.
“He needs to focus on the little things in that position, (like) keeping your errors to a minimum, and that’s really hard to do when you’ve got so much brilliance and talent that you just want to go and show it off all the time.
“Picking and choosing your moments is really important for Reece, but he’s only going to get better.”
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Walsh has emerged as a contender for Queensland’s No.1 jumper after Ponga suffered another head knock in round two, ruling him out indefinitely.
Walsh rockets away on Broncos debut
Walsh was in camp with the Queensland squad last season, but is yet to make his debut.
Another potential option for Slater could be Dolphins speedster, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Walsh’s Broncos and Tabuai-Fidow’s Dolphins are both undefeated and will meet on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium in a top-of-the-table blockbuster, which Slater indicated could play out as an Origin selection battle.
“[Tabuai-Fidow] is already a State of Origin player [and] he’s been one of, if not their best, player through the opening three rounds,” he said.
“It’s going to be a huge battle. They’ve both got so much excitement and Reece is probably the most exciting player in the NRL.
“Whenever he gets the ball he’s got so much speed and power, and you just don’t know what’s going to happen. It could be good, it could be bad.
“But I’m sure every time when Reece Walsh gets the footy in his hands, I reckon both coaches, Kevin Walters and Wayne Bennett, will have their heart in their mouth.”
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