Walsh ready for debut

MELBOURNE: Warriors prodigy Reece Walsh says he is ready and waiting for his NRL debut which could come as soon as this

Sunday against Melbourne.

The 18yearold packed his bags last week and moved from Brisbane to join the Warriors, excited to be mentored by one of the best fullbacks in the game in Roger TuivasaSheck.

But his education may be fasttracked after Walsh was named on an extended bench for the Anzac Day clash.

Walsh said he felt up to the challenge if he received the nod from coach Nathan Brown and had been buoyed by the recent success of fellow teenager

Sydney Roosters half Sam Walker.

‘‘I feel ready now. It’s a matter of time when Browny feels like it’s right or the boys feel like it’s right for me to come in,’’ Walsh said yesterday.

‘‘We do have a lot of injuries and if the opportunity was there and I got given it I’d take it and I wouldn’t look back.’’

He said conversations with Warriors skipper Tohu Harris as well as TuivasaSheck were integral in convincing him to sign.

‘‘I wanted to get here as soon as possible so that I could take in the knowledge and learn from him [TuivasaSheck], see what he does on and off the field,’’ Walsh said.

‘‘That played a major part in me signing with the club and wanting to get over here a year early to learn off him.’’

He did not think he would carry a burden of being the next TuivasaSheck, after the test star switches codes to rugby union next year.

‘‘I know everyone’s going to expect that I’m filling Roger’s shoes, but I’m not Roger and I’m a different player to Roger,’’ Walsh said.

‘‘I know that if I go out there and do what I can do that will handle itself.’’ — AAP