This was the 36-minute cameo that threatened to orchestrate a meteoric Maroons fightback, and could ignite the season of rugby league’s most enigmatic talent.
As Queensland struggled to regain momentum during their 30-12 State of Origin series-deciding loss on Wednesday night, Reece Walsh briefly had the Suncorp Stadium crowd pondering if something truly magical was on the cards.
With every touch, he had the NSW defence seemingly second-guessing themselves, and there was rarely a carry in which the mercurial fullback did not poke his nose through the line.
Walsh believes the performance could awaken his best form, at a time when his Brisbane Broncos need to arrest an eight-game losing streak and win each of their remaining clashes to stand a chance of playing finals football.
“Whenever you can get in these [Origin] environments and be a sponge off some of the greatest players, and go up against the greatest players, I feel like it’s only going to put yourself in a good position,” Walsh said from the Suncorp Stadium sheds.
“We are battling back at home, and I feel like we still have a lot of fight left in us. I feel like if there’s any team in the comp who can come from where we are, it’s us.
“Being in these environments, it shows all the little things you need to do to put yourself in a good position to win footy games. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t give that inspiration and that bit of hunger to get back to clubland and play good footy.
“I can’t wait to get back with my brothers, go to war, and take on this challenge head-on.”
Walsh was injected into the fray early in the second half, with halfback Sam Walker forced off for a head injury assessment. His first carry was fast and ferocious, bringing out his fend to shrug off defenders and get a quick play the ball.
Twice more, as Queensland went on the attack, the Broncos fullback went close to poking his nose through the defence. His presence seemed to put the Blues defence – composed and near-impenetrable until that point as they led 18-4 – on edge.
Selwyn Cobbo would score from that field position, as his grubber deflected off the Blues and straight back to him. Walsh’s cross-field kick on Queensland’s next attacking chance would have also been a peach had his outside men been able to reel it in.
Instead, Bradman Best swooped on the loose ball to score, with the Bunker clearing Blues winger Jack Bostock of making contact in the kick contest.
They were the ominous signals that Walsh was determined to make a difference – his 85 running metres and six tackle busts, many playing out of position in the halves, the stats behind the argument he was Queensland’s best player.
Such was the difference he was making, when Walker was cleared to return from his HIA, it was Kalyn Ponga who was subbed off.
Queensland would eventually score again through Jojo Fifita, while Robert Toia also had a try taken off him when Max Plath was found to be offside from a bomb upon view.
“Reece doesn’t shy away from the big moments. Any time he gets the ball in his hands, he’s a freakish player,” Maroons captain Cameron Munster said.
“He’s incredibly elusive, and when he’s running with the ball, he’s very dangerous. We just tried to get the ball to him as much as possible in those wider spaces around the centre and winger.
“It looked really positive.”
Walsh has copped criticism throughout the year for his form at the Broncos, with his commitment and output called into question in contrast to his explosive finish to 2025, when he clinched the Clive Churchill Medal as Brisbane broke a 19-year premiership drought.
His former Broncos coach, Kangaroos honcho Kevin Walters, even declared this week that the 23-year-old remained his preferred option in the No.1 jumper for the World Cup this year, having starred on his maiden Australian tour in the 2025 Ashes.
Walsh, however, insisted he was not looking that far ahead.
“It’s nice to hear that stuff, but I know what my footy can do, and I’ve just got to work hard on getting that right, putting my head down and letting my footy do the talking,” Walsh said.
“Words mean nothing at the end of the day, it’s the footy and the actions. I’ve just got to go and action that for the Broncs, and whatever happens will happen.”
