Reece Walsh put on a show on and off the field on Sunday morning as the Kangaroos put England to the sword in the Ashes opener.
The Broncos star was at his scintillating best as he tore through the host nation with two tries.
However, it was his post-match celebrations that have attracted the most attention as he stripped off down to his undies in front of fans.
Completing a lap of honour after his man-of-the match performance, Walsh gave his local supporters a surprise when he walked around the fence posing for photos without any shorts on.
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Walsh is looking unstoppable at the moment after finishing the 2025 NRL season with a man-of-the-match Grand Final performance.
He lived up to his star billing as he helped guide Australia to a dominant 26-6 victory at Wembley.
The 23-year-old fullback produced two try-saving interceptions in a display that showcased both his attacking prowess and his defensive nous.
Angus Crichton scored two second-half tries. Nathan Cleary hit all four conversions and a penalty. The hosts scored a late converted try in front of a 60,812-strong crowd — a record for an Ashes match in Britain.
“It was pretty surreal for myself being at Wembley, being among world-class players. We definitely got the support from everyone who’s here to support us,” Walsh told the BBC.
“I’m probably happier with the two tries I stopped (than the two I scored). I think that goes a long way to getting the result tonight. They got that late try there that we’re pretty disappointed with.”
England coach Shaun Wane said the best team had won.
“They made how many line breaks and scored. We made line breaks and didn’t score,” Wane said.
“We weren’t clinical enough, but the positive thing is we can correct that. We can be miles better than that and that’s what we aim to do.”
England started brightly. Herbie Farnworth — one of five NRL regulars in the English team — and Dom Young causing problems down the right.
Australia, who have notched up a record 13 consecutive Ashes series between 1973 and the most recent in 2003, suffered an early blow when captain Isaah Yeo was forced off for a head injury assessment after a collision with Young in the 14th minute.
In the first Ashes Series in 22 years, Walsh drew first blood, crossing for the opening try after England halfback Mikey Lewis was caught out defensively.
Cleary kicked the conversion to hand Australia a welcome lead as Yeo failed his concussion assessment. He will also miss next week’s second Test in Everton’s new Hill-Dickinson Stadium.
England, seeking a first Test victory over Australia by a British side since 2006, responded through skipper George Williams.
The playmaker took the game to the Kangaroos, first running on a fifth tackle and then sending in a probing grubber but the covering Cleary tapped the ball over the line.
Australia were denied a second Crichton try when the referee ruled that Young had been taken out by Josh Addo-Carr going for a Cameron Munster bomb.
Jez Litten tackled the omnipresent Walsh without the ball and Cleary kicked the penalty to leave the world champions 8-0 up at the break.
The second-half had barely started before Walsh escaped from Lewis’ attempted tackle to scurry past a clutch of England players 60 metres upfield, Farnworth just managing to tap tackle Addo-Carr and stop the attack.
Australia scored their second try minutes later, Crichton stepping inside Alex Walmsley and driving over fullback Jack Welsby to the line. Cleary kicked the conversion to leave England facing a truly uphill battle at 14-0.
It was not only Walsh impressing on his Australian debut.
Centre Gehamat Shibasaki came up with a vital tackle on Young to force a knock on.
Cross-code winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, who played for the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby Union World Cup, showed off his aerial technique with aplomb and was a danger with ball in hand.
Australia turned the screw with 15 minutes to play, the influential Munster dummying wide before finding Crichton on the inside, the loose forward going over for his second.
Walsh skipped over for his own second — and Australia’s fourth — after interlinking passes with Shibasaki in a slick attacking set. Cleary converted both.
Jake Wardle managed to bring down Nawaqanitawase in a try-saving tackle before Daryl Clark barged over for a late England consolation try converted by Lewis
— with AFP
Originally published as Reece Walsh celebrates without shorts after Kangaroos freak show