Ivan Cleary has heaped praise on Reece Walsh after a masterclass from the Broncos superstar inspired a stunning upset win over Penrith on Thursday night. Walsh had a hand in all three of Brisbane’s tries, including an audacious cut-out pass to set up Josiah Karapani’s late four-pointer. And he came up clutch with the boot after nailing the sideline conversion to snatch a 14-12 victory.
The result saw Michael Maguire’s men snap an eight-game losing streak to keep their faint premiership defence alive. The Broncos coach welcomed back a host of stars from Origin duty and injury, but it was the Clive Churchill Medallist Walsh who proved the difference in a gutsy victory at a rain-soaked CommBank Stadium.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary heaped praise on Reece Walsh after a moment of magic from the Broncos star inspired them to a stunning upset victory on Thursday night. Pic: Getty
Origin forwards Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan added some much needed steel to Brisbane’s pack and helped them get on the front foot against the ladder-leading Panthers. And with Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, and Walsh also back on deck, the Broncos looked dangerous in attack throughout the contest.
Kotoni Staggs also had a huge game for Brisbane after being dropped from the NSW Origin squad. Walsh put him over for a barnstorming try in the 22nd minute as Staggs burned Penrith opposite Casey McLean to dive over down the right. The Panthers centre missed 10 tackles largely off the back of Staggs’ impressive display.
Reece Walsh magic inspires stunning Broncos win
Nevertheless, coach Cleary was pleased with the way his side defended throughout Thursday night’s arm wrestle against the defending premiers. And he admitted it took a moment of magic from Walsh that perhaps not many other players would be able to conjure to decide the game.
Walsh’s clever grubber kick set up Jordan Riki for Brisbane’s first try in the fourth minute, but a double from Brian To’o either side of Staggs’ effort gave Penrith a 12-8 lead at the break. Walsh almost put over Karapani in the corner with a beautiful lofted ball after the break but the winger dropped the footy over the tryline under some heavy Penrith defence.
Brisbane’s superstar No.1 wasn’t to be denied a second time though after coming up clutch in the dying stages. Walsh sensed an opportunity after a quick play-the-ball before firing an extraordinary cut-out pass to Karapani to cross in the corner. And he stepped up to nail the sideline conversion, leaving Penrith’s coach in awe of the premiership winner’s class.
Reece Walsh (L) had a hand in all three of his side’s tries to inspire the Broncos to a stunning upset win over the Panthers. Pic: Getty
“Reece Walsh was unbelievable tonight and came up with a try that I don’t know if many people could stop that one,” the Penrith coach said. “(But) I thought our defence was outstanding.”
Broncos coach Maguire also lauded his star fullback and the influence his returning cast of stars had on the win. “When you get your players out there then they all complement each other,” Maguire said. “Reece got on the back of what was going on in the front row, and there were a lot of special efforts right throughout the team, and people like Reece can come up with a performance like that.”
with AAP