Reece Walsh, the standout performer from last year’s NRL grand final, recently opened up about his experiences and emotions surrounding finals matches. The young star inspired the Brisbane Broncos to an incredible 26-22 Grand Final win over the Melbourne Storm. For his outstanding individual performance, he was awarded with the legendary Clive Churchill Medal. Though Walsh’s performance is arguably the pinnacle of his illustrious career, his relationship with finals replays is a jarring one.
In a new interview with 7NEWS, Walsh just let slip the biggest surprise. Despite all that he accomplished on the field, it still makes him nervous whenever he would watch a replays of finals games. “If I dwell on it too much it probably takes away from what I need to do in the present,” he stated. He still hasn’t gone back to watch the replay of his grand final masterclass. This was really unusual… particularly for a guy who reviews about 95% of the games he plays.
Last year’s grand final demonstrated Walsh’s incredible defensive chops. Without his pivotal match-saving tackle on Papenhuyzen with less than a minute remaining on the clock, his knack for rising to the big occasions ensured there was no doubt about him being the best on ground. The Broncos were up 24-8 in the 2023 grand final against Penrith. Sadly for them, that jubilant scene was replaced with one of devastation as Penrith hit back, denying the Broncos a taste of premiership success since 2006.
Next, Walsh is looking to play out his game as effectively as possible on the floor. In the process he has been closely studying St George Illawarra co-captain Clint Gutherson to improve his defensive prowess. “He’s always working his backside off and always in position and always doing something for the team,” Walsh noted, expressing admiration for Gutherson’s commitment.
Looking back on what drove him, Walsh focused in particular on creating an industrious and positive culture among his team. “The main message I’ve got from all the old boys and ones that have been successful is that hard work was never questioned,” he remarked. His determination to contribute positively to the team is evident in his desire to leave it all on the field: “I’d rather go out and die on my sword having a try for the team than not giving it a crack and be guilty of it.”
“Looking forward, though, Walsh is excited about the Broncos’ continued future success. “If we’ve got a good attitude and we’re all working hard, we’ll be in a good spot to make it count,” he stated, underscoring his commitment to both personal and team development.
