Reece Walsh has made it clear that his time on the sidelines did not result in a loss of confidence, and he admits his recent form hasn’t been good enough to warrant a return to the Queensland Maroons.
Since coming back from a fractured cheekbone, Walsh and the Brisbane Broncos have faced four consecutive losses, which has put their premiership defense in jeopardy.
Apart from a strong second-half performance against the Roosters, the talented fullback has struggled to regain the form that earned him a Clive Churchill Medal and a Kangaroos debut last year. This decline led to his omission from the Queensland squad for the first game of the State of Origin series.
When Walsh was injured against the Titans in round five—his team’s opponents this Saturday—it marked the second time in two years he had suffered such an injury, following a clash with centre Taylan May in 2024. He was also famously knocked out and concussed by New South Wales player Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in game one of the Origin campaign.
Since his return to play against Sydney, Walsh has made eight handling errors, averaged 103 running metres per game, and failed to cross the line. His two try assists in the shock loss to the Dragons came after the game was already decided.
However, as his team prepares to unveil their all-black kit to support mental health awareness and the Black Dog Institute, Walsh insists he has no concerns about how he is being targeted. He says self-preservation has not influenced his inconsistent performances.
“I wouldn’t say it’s confidence. I go out there with a blueprint of how I play football. I’ve had the injury before, and I sort of understand it and can push forward,” Walsh said.
“It’s one of those injuries where it is what it is. I’ve just got to keep moving forward, keep playing my best footy, and uphold those standards that put me in a good spot.”
Much of the discussion around the Maroons’ game one squad centered on Walsh’s absence. Kalyn Ponga was chosen as the No.1 jumper, while Ezra Mam and Gehamat Shibasaki took the backline bench spots. However, Shibasaki has since suffered a knee injury, ruling him out for up to six weeks, and Mam has been moved to Brisbane’s six-man bench this week.
Walsh has a close relationship with Queensland coach Billy Slater, but he is clear that his hopes of helping the Maroons save the series depend on him improving his form.
“Obviously, as a young Queenslander, all you want to do is grow up and play for Queensland. To not be named and not get that call was disappointing, but I know the standard it takes to play for Queensland,” Walsh said.
“I’m a realist, and I’m honest with myself. I probably haven’t been living up to those standards that it takes to wear that Queensland jersey. I feel like that’s what makes it so great—once you put that jersey on, you know what it takes to get back there.”
“I understand I haven’t been upholding those standards, but it’s about putting in the hard work here at training and relaying that back onto the field. It’d be nice to be in that arena and be amongst the Queenslanders, but my full focus right now is on playing good footy for the Broncos.”
The Broncos’ drop down the ladder has drawn comparisons to last year’s premiership-winning team, who also endured a four-game losing streak before introducing the all-black mental health jersey.
Frustrations are growing within the Brisbane camp, especially after Payne Haas criticized his side in an interview with ABC following the St George-Illawarra defeat. Haas claimed the squad were “all talk” and failing to back it up on the field.
In what was the superstar prop’s first game back from a knee injury, he ran for 281 metres and made 33 tackles.
Walsh had no issue with Haas’ comments and praised the quality of leadership the star prop brings to the Broncos.
“There was a point last year where we were going through the same kind of rollercoaster, and we had the same conversations in-house. It just shows the quality we have here at the club and the quality of leader Payno is,” Walsh said.
“He doesn’t leave any stone unturned, and he tells you to your face how it is. For us as players, those are the conversations you want to be having.”
“It’s not ideal to be having them and having the losses, but I feel like if we weren’t having them, we’d be taking the piss. We’ve got to respect it, honour it, and keep showing up every day and work hard.”
