“Stuff it, I’m going after it.”
After being sidelined for six weeks with a PCL injury, Reece Walsh vowed to make every moment count upon his return to the field and to no longer take a backward step in backing himself and his football.
After sustaining his injury in the opening tackle of his side’s Round 7 loss to the Warriors – he continued to play the entire game, with post-match scans confirming the injury. But since his return in Round 14’s 44-14 win over the Titans where he scored two tries and set up another, the Broncos rose from 11th on the ladder to finish in the top four.
In last week’s dramatic qualifying final win over the Raiders, they took another step closer to the grand final, with belief building the can go all the way.
Walsh’s influence on the fortunes of this Brisbane team was there for all to see as he orchestrated an astonishing comeback in the nation’s capital, with a try, two try assists and two 40/20 kicks helping turn the tide back his side’s way.
Reece Walsh Try
“I think the start of the year, I probably tried to take a step back and let Dozer [Ben Hunt] and Reyno [Adam Reynolds] sort of take over a bit more and pop up where I can, but it sort of wasn't working for me,” Walsh told ljmpta.com.
“So when I did get back from injury, I was just like, ‘stuff it, I'm going after it’, so I don't really care what comes of it if people are (critical) … they're obviously doing it now and calling me ‘rocks and diamonds’ and all that; but as long as I'm going after it and I'm trying to play my game, I think that doesn't matter.
“When I go out there and there are big games … I rely a lot on my work that I've put in from training, the working on my craft, all that sort of stuff, so when I go out on the field, I just go out there and play.
“I feel like I'm at my best when I'm just going out there playing, not thinking about anything, having fun … (can let the instinct take over) … just playing footy.”
Ben Hunt spoke about allowing his star fullback to step in and take over whenever he saw something, saying even though he was playing the role of halfback, when Walsh wanted the ball, “you have just got to set him free”.
A hugely popular figure, Walsh also attracts plenty of differing opinion for the way he expresses himself on and off the field. The game against Canberra provided a snapshot of the struggles Walsh tries to overcome to keep his emotions in check, sin binned and later fined for the way he retaliated to his opponent on the field and the crowd off it in a crackling match.
Walsh sends it to extra time
While he admits he doesn’t always get things right, Walsh said family played a big part in his development as a person and player and keeping him grounded, especially his role as a father to daughter Leila.
“Going home, I'm Dad at the end of the day I get to enjoy those moments with her,” Walsh said.
“I've got my family close; they play a massive role in getting me to where I am and I definitely wouldn't be in the position where I am or I wouldn't be happy or content in myself without them.
“Everything that I'm doing; it gives me that bigger reason why and why I push myself and why I put myself out there on the spot sometimes.
“As long as my circle and the club and my family know my intentions and where my priorities are at …
“It's a bit hard; a lot of things get said about me … and doing some of the stuff I do; I still feel like I'm a work in progress.
“I'm 23 years old, I've been in the spotlight since I was 18, so I'm still navigating life and navigating through my journey.
“I'm going to get things wrong, but obviously I don't want to get things wrong all the time.
“I guess I'm just trying to be myself, be authentic and not change; but I've obviously got to be a bit better in some things that I do.”
Walsh’s relationship with coach Michael Maguire has also helped unlock his confidence to back himself when the moment arises.
“Me and Madge, we talk every week about footy … he's a big believer in working hard and putting the practice in, which he knows that I do that,” Walsh said.
“I think that's probably why he lets me go out there and play my game and if I don't get it right, I'm willing to cop the consequences of it and he knows that.
“I just try to put the work in here and train and do my best on the field.”
This week, the broncos will have the weekend off and will watch to see if they will host the Bulldogs or the Panthers in their preliminary final on Sunday, September 28 at Suncorp Stadium.
