Reece Walsh has officially overtaken Nathan Cleary as the best player in the world. At least that’s the suggestion being floated by some NRL legends and Broncos teammates.
Walsh produced one of the all-time grand final performances on Sunday night, leading the Broncos back from a 22-10 deficit to a 26-22 victory over the Melbourne Storm. It capped an incredible two-month run from Walsh in which the Broncos fullback was clearly the best player in the NRL.
On Sunday night he scored a stunning solo try and set up three others, while also saving two tries on the defensive end. He had a whopping 14 tackle breaks and made the Melbourne defenders look silly as he carved up the second half.
Reece Walsh (centre) proved a number of NRL legends wrong as he usurped Nathan Cleary (R) in many peoples’ eyes. Image: Getty
Walsh was picked in Kevin Walters’ Kangaroos squad for the Ashes on Monday, and is likely to get the nod for the starting fullback spot over incumbent Panthers star Dylan Edwards. And while Cleary has been viewed as the best player in the world over the last five or six years, many believe Walsh has usurped him.
NRL legends Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston have declared Walsh’s performance on Sunday night as the greatest they’ve ever seen – just ahead of Cleary’s 20-minute burst in the 2023 decider that broke the Broncos’ hearts. “I’ve never seen an individual dominate a grand final like that,” Lockyer told AAP.
“Nathan Cleary did it a couple years ago, but that’s one of the best individuals performances. We talk about his speed and flashiness, but tonight it’s toughness, especially. He’s such a team-focused person. He does all this stuff to help the team win!'”
Reece Walsh won the Clive Churchill medal after a stunning display in the NRL grand final. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Reece Walsh could be ‘best player ever’
The 23-year-old was rightfully awarded the Clive Churchill medal, and Broncos teammates were blown away. “He’s definitely helping us erase the memory of Nathan Cleary in 2023,” said injured hooker Billy Walters.
“He’s on track to be the best player ever. He’s only scratching the surface. He’s so good and he’s nothing what the media portrays him as. He’s so tough, he’s so resilient, he works so hard on his game and he’s such a talent. He’s honestly just scratching the surface. It’s why I wanted to stay at the club because I think he’s carrying us to another premiership.”
Close friend Pat Carrigan said: “You guys don’t even know (what he can do). He’s just a kid. I don’t want to pump up his tyres too much even though I’m his biggest fan, but if you hang around footy and see the hard work he does day in and day out, you see how he understands the game already.
“If he keeps working hard and stays diligent, he’s going to be a special player. I think it (the criticism) doesn’t really faze him. He’s got a tight circle and a really tight friendship group. He just values the little things in life.”
Cooper Cronk and Andrew Johns proven wrong
Walsh’s performance silenced his critics, and helped prove a number of comments from Cooper Cronk and Andrew Johns wrong. Earlier in the finals, Cronk predicted that Walsh might get found out defensively – like he did in the 2023 grand final and a number of times throughout his career.
“Reece Walsh can be found out on the last play (of a set),” Cronk said. “He can be found out of position with kicks or running the ball. I know Nathan (Cleary) will be doing his homework to come up with a play to find Reece Walsh out.”
RELATED:
But Walsh’s defensive efforts on Sunday night were just as good as his attacking brilliance. He did have a one-on-one miss on Nick Meaney for the first Storm try, but saved two in return. He caused Tui Kamikamica to drop the ball over the line on a play that swung the grand final, and then saved the game with a brilliant tackle on Ryan Papenhuyzen in the dying seconds.
He also proved Andrew Johns wrong after the NRL Immortal predicted the Broncos’ slow starts to haunt them in the grand final. Johns said the Broncos wouldn’t be able to come back for the third time in three finals games if they trailed early against the Storm, but Walsh inspired a stunning second-half blitz that saw Brisbane do it again.