Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards could be in for a battle to hold onto his Kangaroos jersey after Reece Walsh inspired the Broncos to a remarkable 16-14 win over Penrith to reach the NRL grand final. The Panthers looked like they were going to march into their sixth straight grand final as Nathan Cleary helped his side take a 14-0 lead into the second-half.
But Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds and Walsh all helped inspire the Broncos to score 16 unanswered points to reach the showdown against the Melbourne Storm in Michael Maguire’s first year as Brisbane coach. And Walsh made amends for missing a conversion to help set up Deine Mariner for the match-winning try.
Reece Walsh (pictured right) may have overtaken Dylan Edwards (pictured left) in the race for the Kangaroos fullback jersey for the Ashes tour. (Images: Getty Images)
Walsh was all action across the first 70 minutes as he tried everything to get his team into the game. And it was his moment of brilliance on the right-edge that saw Mariner dive over the line to tie the game.
The Broncos fullback darted towards the line for a try with five minutes remaining, but was wrapped up with three Panthers defenders getting hold of him. Although the 23-year-old managed to wriggle free and pulled off a remarkable offload that hit the deck and bounced towards Mariner.
And the Broncos winger still had plenty of work to do as he barged over the line to level the game 14-all. Walsh then selflessly made the call to hand over the kicking duties to Reynolds. The Broncos captain made the most of his opportunity and slotted the conversion to give the Broncos the win.
Amid the chaos and frantic action at Suncorp, Walsh showed why at his best there is nearly no one better. Despite not scoring, Walsh finished with 12 tackle busts and a try assist with his relentless effort causing the Panthers to scramble.
His up-tempo play unsettled the Panthers in the final 20 minutes and his try assist came out of nothing. And Walsh’s form has already caught the attention of national coach Kevin Walters ahead of the Ashes tour.
Calls for Reece Walsh to play Ashes tour
Walters recently admitted he was monitoring both Edwards and Walsh heading into the preliminary final with the coach set to select a 22-man squad for the England tour. The other star in contention is Roosters fullback James Tedesco. “It’s probably the most contested position of all the spots in the 22,” Walters on SEN Radio this month. “They’ve obviously all had great seasons, you can’t deny that in any way.”
Walters claimed Walsh’s form was hard to ignore in the backend of the season. “And then you’ve got Reece Walsh. His last six or seven weeks for the Broncos have propelled them into a preliminary final with his work at the No.1.”
The Broncos No.1 emerged as the victorious fullback on the weekend and arguably had the standout performance against the Australian incumbent. Walsh lost his Queensland Origin jersey this year and many wouldn’t have predicted the fullback would be in line to wear the Kangaroos jersey in 2025. But Walters will have a huge decision to make with Tedesco also favoured to win the Dally M and enjoyed one of his best seasons in the NRL. Although reporter Michael Chammas believes the coach can’t look back and needs to put Walsh in the No.1 jersey, which he could hold for 10 years.
“In terms of his influence on a game, it was incredible,” Chammas said on SEN Radio of Walsh’s performance against the Raiders two weeks ago. “And to me he’s the Australian fullback, you’ve got to take him over there. He’s got to be your No.1. You plan for the future and there’s no one like him. I thought Teddy should get it before that. But if they go on a run Brisbane, then Reece Walsh is your fullback for Australia.”
Reece Walsh (pictured) was the star against Nathan Cleary’s (pictured right) Panthers side.
Reece Walsh’s stunning decision in Broncos win
Walsh hadn’t played in a winning team against Penrith, prior to the preliminary final game, across his 93-game NRL career. But the fullback helped change this on the weekend and will now enter the final against the Storm with another opportunity to impress the selectors and Walters.
But the fullback also made an important call to hand over kicking duties with the game on the line. Walsh hadn’t enjoyed the best fay with the kicking tee and revealed he went to his captain for the winning kick. Reynolds wasn’t kicking because of his troublesome hamstring, but stepped up with a few minutes remaining.
When asked whose decision it was on Channel 9, Walsh responded emphatically: “Mine. That’s the reason he’s in our team – for those moments right there.” The fullback revealed Reynolds told him earlier in the week that the veteran halfback would be kicking, so Walsh didn’t do much practice.
Dylan Edwards (pictured) is facing a tough task to hold onto the Kangaroos No.1 jersey.