From a young age, Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large have always been destined for greatness.
First crossing paths as 11-year-olds while representing New South Wales at a rugby league carnival, the teenagers have rapidly risen through the ranks and established themselves among the nation’s best talent under the age of 20.
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‘We actually did play together when we were younger. It was a league state team for New South Wales in like Under-11s – I played up – but it was a long time ago,” Large told foxsports.com.au.
Whether it was dominating the junior pathways in rugby league, prevailing for their respective schools or being standouts in the 15-man code, the duo have long been regarded as two of the most exciting young sporting prospects.
Seven years on from their first introduction, the young duo have been earmarked as the future of the Manly Sea Eagles and the club’s long-term halves pairing.
“Me and Onz sort of played junior reps together. I think I would have been in Year 6 and then throughout the years played against each other,” Walsh told foxsports.com.au.
“It’s been sick being able to build a combination with him and now being at the same team in the first-grade level has been unreal.”
Large and Walsh played together in primary school.Source: FOX SPORTS
Although both remain at the early stages of their NRL careers, the hype surrounding the teenagers continues to grow as they edge closer to becoming regular fixtures at first grade level.
While Large has yet to make his NRL debut, Walsh is coming off his first career start against the Panthers in which he showed glimpses of his potential.
Renowned for his composure, game management, vision and kicking ability, his best moment came when he fired a flat ball pass to Haumole Olakau’atu without looking.
“Without a doubt, he’s going to have a great career here at the mighty Sea Eagles. He’s a fabulous player,” Jake Trbojevic said on Walsh as he prepares for his 250th career match.
“He’s worked extremely hard all off-season. I was stoked for him that he got a crack on the weekend.
“Obviously, it was a shame missing Jamal, but I was really happy for him to get a go cause he’s worked extremely hard.
Play Walsh even when Fogarty returns? | 02:41
“He’s a great young kid, just goes after the game and I really enjoyed playing alongside him for the first time, but I’ve really enjoyed watching his development since he’s come to the club
“I want to learn from him, honestly. The way he just goes after the game is remarkable for a 19-year-old.
“He just goes out there and does his job. All week he was calm. He’s got a great future for us but I think it’ll be good for him these few years sort of playing behind Jamal [Fogarty] and Brooksy [Luke Brooks] and learning off them.”
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He may not have been able to record a win in his first NRL start, but Walsh’s performance caught the attention of club legend Steve Menzies.
The most prolific try-scoring forward in rugby league, Menzies featured in 280 matches for the Manly Sea Eagles – a further 69 games for the Northern Eagles – and represented both the Australian Kangaroos and New South Wales Blues in the representative arena.
“I don’t see why not,” Menzies said when asked if Walsh could have a bright future in the NRL one day.
“Joey showed some amazing skills, some great touches, some really tough defence and tackles.
“Whenever a young kid comes in, the intimidating part (plays a major role). You’re playing against these guys you watched on TV and some of them are your heroes, so that physical nature is tough.
“I thought he defended really well. Some great passes, some slight hand movements and controlled it well. I thought he was really solid against probably the season’s best team.”
Walsh shows his class to set up try | 00:21
THE JOEY WALSH STORY
The heir apparent to Daly Cherry-Evans, Walsh began his rugby league journey with the Narraweena Hawks Club in the Manly district competition but quickly found himself picked up by the Sydney Roosters.
A member of the Roosters’ Under-17s team in 2022 alongside Blake Steep, Toby Rodwell and Zach Fittler, he impressed in limited minutes on the field, which saw him selected in the Junior Blues squad later that year.
However, he would then shift his full attention to rugby union, where he became an elite fly-half and fullback for St Augustine’s College and co-captained the Under-18s Australian Wallabies.
“I watched him play two years of rugby. He played with one of my boys, Beau, and he looked like that [a quality player] when he was playing schoolboy rugby,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League earlier this season.
“I thought when he made the change to Manly, if he had of stuck with rugby he might have been the Wallaby five eighth, possibly (as soon as) this year. He’s that good and he’s only 19.
Walsh could have been in line to play for the Wallabies.Source: News Corp Australia
“Fogarty is a great kicker of the ball – he’s a good (number) seven – and Luke Brooks can run the footy (but) we don’t see it enough.
“If someone’s going to be able to create opportunities around the ruck and on the edges, it might just be this man (Walsh).“
Training with the NSW Waratahs while still at school, it looked as though he was set to go down the union path and follow in the footsteps of his brothers, Jack and Jed.
However, he turned down advances from Rugby Australia, the Dolphins and Canterbury Bulldogs to sign with the Sea Eagles.
“Obviously, played both codes growing up. Really enjoyed both codes but for me, the opportunity to learn off Chez [Daly Cherry-Evans] last year and now Brooksy and Jamal was to hard to say no,” Walsh told foxsports.com.au.
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“I thought it was a great opportunity to improve my game.
“I played lots of league in my juniors so it’s just the last couple of years I played union so it wasn’t too different.
“But at the same time, I’ve noticed this year getting a full pre-season and getting the reps under my belt has helped me a lot.”
Contracted until the end of 2027 at the moment, foxsports.com.au has been told by various sources that initial talks between him and the Sea Eagles have begun in an attempt to keep him from testing the open market come November 1.
Extension talks between the halfback and club have already begun.Source: Supplied
THE ONITONI LARGE STORY
Meanwhile, Large’s progression has been just as impressive.
One of the best young talents in either rugby league or union for a number of years, Large was earmarked to play a key piece of the Wests Tigers’ future after coming through the club’s pathways system.
However, he decided to depart for the Sea Eagles after more than a dozen teams expressed an interest in recruiting him and has continued to rise through the junior ranks, making his NSW Cup reserve-grade debut last weekend.
Similar to Walsh, Large could have easily gone down the path of rugby union, but decided to chase his dream of one day playing in the NRL.
“I mean, it was always in the back of my mind when we were making the decision because I could play rugby or league, but I think in the meantime and what it has been, league has always been the case,” Large told foxsports.com.au.
“I think it would be very special (to one day play in the NRL). In the last two years I’ve had some injuries so I haven’t been able to play a long stint of footy.
Large was formerly with the Wests Tigers.Source: News Corp Australia
“For me to overcome those challenges and adversity and then hopefully debut would mean the world to me.
“It’s been a childhood dream and to repay my family but also to do it for myself and represent my culture and my last name and repay the club would be the best.”
A former captain of the Junior Wallabies and Under-16s New South Wales representative in rugby league, Large remains contracted at the Sea Eagles until the end of 2027.
However, foxsports.com.au understands that talks have already begun between the club and his management to extend his stay at the Northern Beaches.
“He’s not afraid of anything,” Tigers star Api Koroisau once said of the youngster.
“(Even when it’s) bigger bodies, he’s getting his body in front, body on the line, and he’s actually doing really well in terms of the way he carries himself.
“I think he’s got a really big future ahead of him.”
The five-eighth representing the U16s NSW Waratahs.Source: News Corp Australia