Broncos legend Corey Parker has suggested Reece Walsh has a “mortgage” on the Kangaroos’ fullback jersey moving forward, with Dylan Edwards facing an uphill battle to regain the spot he lost. Penrith’s four-time premiership winner was overlooked for Walsh at fullback for Australia’s opening Ashes Test against England, and the Brisbane premiership winner marked his international debut in stunning fashion during the thumping 26-6 victory at Wembley.
Walsh scored two tries and pulled off two try-saving plays against England in a Test debut to savour for the Kangaroos No.1. The Broncos superstar was comfortably the most dangerous player on the field, running for 175 metres and causing the English all sorts of problems in a man-of-the-match performance.
Reece Walsh’s incredible Test debut for the Kangaroos will make it extremely difficult for Dylan Edwards to win back his Kangaroos No.1 jersey. Pic: Getty/AAP
League Immortal Andrew Johns described Walsh’s selection as a ‘no-brainer’ for Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters in the lead-up to the Ashes opener. And the 23-year-old’s incredible performance more than vindicated Walters’ call to axe Australia’s incumbent No.1 Edwards, and hand Walsh his maiden Test cap.
Many good judges believe Walsh has now usurped Nathan Cleary as the game’s best player, and few could argue after his extraordinary form over the back half of 2025. “I think we can all agree that Nathan Cleary has a mortgage on the 7 jersey for Australia,” Parker said on SEN radio. “Does Reece Walsh now have a mortgage on the No.1 jersey?
“23-years of age at the moment and he’s playing for Australia. He’s playing lights out football. He’s also valuing defence more. He’s the best player in the world right now.”
Reece Walsh appears to have locked down the Kangaroos No.1 jersey long-term after a staggering Test debut against England in the Ashes opener. Pic: Getty
Veteran broadcaster Pat Walsh added: “I’ve got no doubt (that Walsh is a lock) for the No.1 jersey. Edwards was the incumbent and James Tedesco was also in the conversation given the unbelievable season that he had this year.
“Yet, this kid (Walsh) is blowing them all the way. (Walsh is now excelling) on both sides of the ball which is something we have been calling out for. I have no doubt that if he stays healthy, he will be our No.1 for a long time.”
Aussie teammates blown away by Reece Walsh’s Test debut
Cleary described Walsh’s Clive Churchill Medal-winning display as one of the greatest individual displays in a grand final he’s ever witnessed. Walsh has taken his irresistible club form onto the international stage with consummate ease, to emerge as the Kangaroos’ most dangerous strike weapon. Even Aussie five-eighth Cameron Munster – who’s consistently been one of the best rep players on the planet – was blown away by the rookie Kangaroos fullback’s influence.
“I’m very lucky to play with him. He broke my heart a couple of weeks ago,” Munster said in reference to Walsh’s grand final masterclass. “He’s a special talent, and he’s only going to get better, and that’s great to see.”
Cleary was also quick to hail the new prince of Australian rugby league, as Walsh stamped himself as the new standard bearer for the international game. “It’s outstanding – what a freak of a player, honestly,” the Panthers great smiled. “It’s an absolute pleasure to play alongside him.”
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But while Walsh rightly earns the plaudits for his career-best form, it leaves Edwards facing an unfortunate truth. The four-time premiership winner has been outstanding at club and rep level, but it’s hard to see him winning back the Kangaroos No.1 jersey from Walsh, who has cemented his status as Australia’s long-term fullback.
Reece Walsh not content despite Kangaroos masterclass
As good as Walsh was against England, the Kangaroos No.1 admitted there were still areas of his game that he was not entirely satisfied with. That should set off alarm bells for an England side that was cut open by Walsh with ease and had few answers to the livewire fullback’s brilliance.
“There’s some things that I could definitely get better at, for sure,” Walsh admitted after the first Test in response to a question about his memorable debut. “Trying to organise the line, there was a few things in defence there, I sort of let the boys down in the game.
“I thought we were pretty scrappy out there… there’s a lot of room for improvement. But when we’re all chasing perfection, it doesn’t mean you’re going to get it, so we’ve just got to keep trying to get better each session.”
with AAP