Walters finds room for Sailor and Walsh
Brisbane coach Kevin Walters is set to deploy a one-two attacking punch by unleashing dynamic duo Reece Walsh and Tristan Sailor for Friday night’s derby against the Dolphins.
The Broncos have received a huge boost with star fullback Reece Walsh named to make an early return from a facial fracture for the Battle of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Walters has found room for Sailor, with the livewire utility named in the No.17 jumper as the Broncos coach looks to the son of Wendell to provide some attacking spark off the bench.
Walsh was expected to miss four to six weeks after his eye injury against Penrith in round 3, but the fullback whiz-kid ran strongly at training on Tuesday in the strongest sign yet he is poised for a comeback.
The Queensland Origin maestro will have a fitness test at Brisbane’s captain’s run tomorrow but injured skipper Adam Reynolds is confident Walsh will take on the Dolphins, most likely wearing protective headgear.
“Walshy would have played last week if Kev let him,” Reynolds said.
“He is a tough kid, he wanted to get on with it. He hates missing games and loves being involved in games. I’m sure he will get that protection.
“Having been coached by Wayne (Bennett) myself, he never likes players getting hurt or injured and he talks about trying to prevent people being put in those situations.
“He has a duty of care to make his players play a safe game.”
The Broncos bench had a lightweight composition, with hooker Tyson Smoothy retaining his place in No.14, leaving Xavier Willison and Kobe Hetherington as the only two genuine forwards.