Kevin Walters’ hard truth to Reece Walsh has “humbled” the star Broncos recruit as he goes up against three teammates for the No.1 jersey.
Walsh has returned to Red Hill on a three-year contract following a two-season stint with the Warriors.
The 20-year-old became a star at fullback for the Warriors and even earned a State of Origin call-up seven games into his NRL career only for an injury to rob him of a debut.
He told foxsports.com.au that he “jumped” at the opportunity to return to the Broncos — the system he was developed in before joining the Warriors.
But the fullback spot has never been guaranteed to him with Broncos head of recruitment Simon Scanlan declaring “Reece has to come in and fight for the jumper” in November.
Walters backed that up in December, revealing Selwyn Cobbo and Herbie Farnworth will spend time training there too, while foxsports.com.au understands train-and-trialer Tristan Sailor is also impressing at fullback.
Walsh conceded earlier this week that the challenge has “grounded” him and made him “wary” about putting a foot wrong.
“Obviously I signed to be fullback, but once Kev told me that nothing’s guaranteed and that there’s boys fighting for the position, I feel like it sort of humbles you a bit and makes you a lot more grounded and wary about what I do,” he said.
“I can’t really slip up or have a bad session here or there, I have to put my best foot forward to be the best I can be for the team.
“Knowing that there’s that competition there it makes you fight a lot harder and when it does get to the season, I know that I might get the position or I might not but if I do get it I’m not going to sit back and chill because someone can come in and take it.”
“He’s fantastic. For a young kid he’s very confident, he talks a lot but he’s got x-factor,” Reynolds told foxsports.com.au.
“He gets out the back of shape, is very fast and when you get one-on-one with him it’s pretty scary.
“It’s just about upskilling him, giving him a bit of my knowledge and tip him off where I can.
“My job is to get him into space and I feel like that’s one of my greatest strengths in the game so the more space I can get him the better he’s going to be.
“But it’s also about communicating and making sure we do the little things right and not try to do it all at once.”
Walsh was on a development contract with the Broncos before getting an early release in April, 2021 to chase a clearer path to first grade at the Warriors.
He admitted leaving the club was “hard” but he has no regrets given his career was fast-tracked at the Warriors.
He also didn’t stray too far from the Broncos, revealing he would often tune in to watch his former teammates.
“Not at all,” Walsh said when asked if he regretted his Broncos exit.
“Obviously leaving was hard, but I left to go chase an opportunity to play in the NRL. I got a lot of lessons out of leaving and I don’t think I’d be the player I am now without leaving and coming back.
“I’ve got a lot of stuff that I know now and have experienced in first grade to bring back. If I get put into situations on the field and off the field, now I know how to deal with it.
“I don’t regret leaving but it was hard, I’m just happy that I’m back now.
“Growing up I always wanted to play for the Broncos and when I left it did feel like maybe one day I might get to come back and do that. I didn’t know when that was going to be and it was sooner than I thought.
“I love the club, I only missed one game the boys played so when the opportunity for me to come back and put on Broncos jersey I jumped at it.”
The opportunities Walsh got at the Warriors are not lost on him though. He wishes them “nothing but success” and conceded it was tough to walk away from the club given the growth he experienced there.
“I felt like I was just getting to that point where I was starting to earn the boys’ respect and I was growing as a player,” Walsh said.
“But at the end of the day that’s footy and these types of things happen.”
