REECE SET FOR IGNITION IN ORIGIN 1
Reece Lightning is ready to strike in State of Origin.
Queensland fullback legend Darren Lockyer has given his seal of approval to Reece Walsh and backed the Maroons whiz-kid to handle a NSW onslaught in his Origin debut on Wednesday night.
Walsh will make one of the most anticipated debuts in Origin’s 43-year history when the Broncos young gun runs out in the Queensland No.1 jumper in the 2023 series opener against the Blues at Adelaide Oval.
Queensland coach Billy Slater is showing enormous faith in the 20-year-old, dropping last year’s Game Three hero Kalyn Ponga to launch the Origin career of Walsh.
The Gold Coast product from Nerang faces a daunting backfield battle with NSW champion James Tedesco, but Maroons selector Lockyer believes Walsh can be the X-factor that helps Queensland draw first blood in South Australia.
“Reece is ready for this arena,” said former Maroons skipper Lockyer, who played 16 of his 36 Origin games for Queensland in the No.1.
“He has played well for the Broncos this season.
“It has been a tough month for them, but I believe Reece is ready for the physicality and intensity of Origin.
“Reece worries defences with his speed, but his toughness in defence has improved this season.”
Walsh has been one of the NRL’s form attackers this season, compiling 13 try assists, eight line breaks and 61 tackle busts to play a key role in Brisbane’s surge to the top four.
Lockyer was renowned for stepping up as a match winner under pressure and he insists Walsh won’t be intimidated by the Origin occasion.
“If the game is tight, Reece is the type of guy who wants to be involved and that’s crucial in Origin games,” Lockyer said.
“You want players who want the ball when the game is on the line.
“Daly (Cherry-Evans) and (Cameron) Munster will do their thing in the halves and I think they can create some space for Reece.
“At the Broncos, Walsh works well with his outside men and is good at finding space for them.
“There’s no doubt the Blues will try and get physical with him, but I have no doubt he is ready for that.
“Given Billy Slater’s own history in the Queensland No.1 jersey, I think Reece will be well prepared to do his job and do it really well.”
For Walsh, his Queensland baptism more than compensates for the pain of his Origin heartbreak two years ago.
The 18-year-old was set to make his Origin debut in Game Two of the 2021 series, only to injure his hamstring at the captain’s run 24 hours before the biggest game of his career at Suncorp.
Now Walsh gets his big break to terrorise the Blues.
“Standing in the huddle looking around the room and seeing my Queensland brothers going to war, it will be exciting,” Walsh said. “I remember as a kid sitting in my living room seeing Queensland run out there and it was my dream to play Origin.”