Corey Parker has warned that the NRL could lose Reece Walsh to rugby union, with the Queensland rugby league great believing the Broncos fullback will soon become too big a superstar to keep out of the Wallabies’ grasp.
Walsh enjoyed his best season to date for the Broncos and put in one of the greatest-ever NRL grand final displays as the Broncos were crowned champions.
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Since then, his superstardom has only exploded further with two superb performances for the Kangaroos.
It is safe to say Walsh-mania has swept England, with the 23-year-old the talk of the town as he draws massive crowds.
It is no surprise, given he is already one of rugby league’s most marketable stars in its history, as seen with having more than $1 million followers on Instagram and TikTok combined.
And it has Parker believing the allure of playing for the Wallabies and being showcased on the world stage regularly could tempt Walsh to leave the NRL.
“My concern is that because he is of such a status and has such a cult following, 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.”
Walsh only just signed a bumper five-year deal with the Broncos at the end of last year, keeping him contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2029.
But Parker predicts he will be a global household name in the years to come.
“I actually can’t even forecast how big he is going to get,” Parker said.
“If you’re just looking purely at his talent, it’s pretty obvious. But the status and the following and everything that goes with it is on a whole new level.
“I’ve had a fair bit to do with Reece and to watch him elevate himself in the grand final when Brisbane were under the pump and lost their No.6 and No.7.
“It’s normally panic stations. But strangely enough, it was quite calm given the fact that Reece was doing what he was doing. He was terrific.”
The rugby union world is already talking about trying to poach Walsh as well, with Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh urged to splurge on Brisbane Broncos star.
On the latest edition of The Good, The Bad and The Rugby ANZ podcast, former Wallaby Jeremy Paul called for Waugh to “open the chequebook”.
“How electric, mate?” Paul said to co-host Tim Bateman, a Kiwi former Super Rugby player, speaking about Walsh’s performance in the first Ashes Test.
“How fast was he on the weekend in the Ashes? Like, and just every time he touched it. Like, it’s explosive.
“…I reckon, Phil Waugh, open up that chequebook, bro.
“He’d put bums on seats anyway. Look at Suaalii.”
Originally published as Reece Walsh linked with stunning code-switch amid warning NRL faces battle to hold onto game’s biggest star