Corey Parker has expressed concerns around Reece Walsh being lured over to rugby union with the global appeal a pulling point, while ARL boss Peter V’landys says the Broncos star could take rugby league to the next level. Walsh caught the attention of the English public after a player-of-the-match performance in the Kangaroos’ 26-6 win at Wembley.
Walsh scored two tries and saved two four-pointers with amazing efforts to cement his place as the biggest star in rugby league. It came a few weeks after the Broncos fullback won the Clive Churchill Medal in the NRL grand final.
Walsh has brought eyeballs to the game already with members of South Africa’s rugby union side the Springboks attending Wembley to get a glimpse of the Kangaroos. And Walsh caught their attention with his blockbuster display.
NRL boss Peter V’landys (pictured left) has claimed Reece Walsh’s (pictured right) star power could be the answer to propel rugby league into the next stratosphere. (Images: Getty Images)
The Kangaroos stars appear to be relishing their time travelling England on the three-game Ashes Tour. And Parker has confessed he feels the appetite for travel and ability to become a global superstar could convince Walsh to quit the NRL one day.
“My concern is that because he is of such a status and has such a cult following that he tries to go worldwide and bigger,” Parker told AAP. “In rugby league, it’s just harnessed here in Australia and in the north of England. If you look at rugby union for example, that is worldwide.
“I’ve never seen anyone with that kind of following in it in my time. So it’s whether he stays in the game for his whole entire career … I hope he does.”
New Zealand rugby league legend Graham Lowe has already suggested the All Blacks should throw up to $5 million a year at the Broncos fullback in a bid to revive the sport. And NRL boss V’landys is aware of the pulling power Walsh holds in the Australian and global landscapes.
Peter V’landys keen to promote Reece Walsh
While Parker has concerns, NRL boss V’landys has likened Walsh to NBA superstar LeBron James having suggested he can transcend the sport and bring in new fans. “He’s going to put the international game to another level,” V’landys told BBC Sport.
“I don’t follow basketball, but I’d like to see LeBron James. And this is the same thing for rugby league. He’s a champion player, so people want to see those, even if you’ve got no interest in rugby league. You’ll be attracted to someone like Reece Walsh.”
Walsh was praised for spending time with the English and Australian fans after his performance at Wembley. And his ability to connect with the young fan base with his personality has brought plenty of fans to the NRL.
Michael Maguire (pictured left) and Reece Walsh (pictured right) celebrated the NRL grand final victory in the change rooms drinking out of miniature replica toilets.
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Peter V’landys defends Reece Walsh
However, not all of his antics have been well received. Earlier this year, Walsh copped backlash after his toilet stunt made headlines. He joked about the healing powers from the water in his newly installed toilet, before scooping some up with his hands and taking a swig. The Broncos described it as a ‘poor attempt at humour’.
He has since played up the drama having signed off his Clive Churchill Medal winning speech with ‘Plumber out’. Walsh was also captured drinking out of a miniature replica toilet with coach Michael Maguire after the grand final. And NRL CEO V’landys claimed Walsh has been able to learn from his mishaps.
“I think it comes with the territory,” V’Landys said. “He’s a young guy. And in reality, they haven’t been that serious. I mean, being a plumber, I guess is a good profession, but he’s like all the rest of us. He’s going to make mistakes in life, and you have to learn from them.”