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Walsh just at start of NRL journey: Brown

3 minute read

Reece Walsh's first NRL match against ex-club Brisbane ended in defeat but Warriors coach Nathan Brown knows there's more to come from his young star.

REECE WALSH of the Warriors.
REECE WALSH of the Warriors. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

As Brisbane players celebrated Sunday's 24-22 NRL win over the Warriors, teenager Reece Walsh slumped to his haunches having missed two opportunities to level the match in the final two minutes.

The 19-year-old fullback was the focus of much of the build-up ahead of his first game against his former club, with Brisbane having endured heavy criticism for seemingly let an NRL rival poach one of the brightest prospects in the game.

While Brisbane secured a win which ended the Warriors' hopes of making the top eight, Walsh endured a mixed day.

An embarrassing misjudgement by Walsh on an Anthony Milford bomb allowed the Broncos to opening the scoring through Xavier Coates before Walsh's line-break was crucial to his team's first try.

The teenager finished the match with two try assists, seven tackle busts and 145 running metres but he also managed just one of five conversion attempts and narrowly missed a two-point field goal effort in the final minute.

Warriors coach Nathan Brown said as impressive as Walsh has been in his debut campaign, there's still plenty more to come from the youngster particularly after a proper pre-season with his teammates.

"Reece hasn't even scratched the surface of his football yet," Brown said.

"He's basically playing on instinct and natural talent at the moment.

"Reece does things out there that no coach teaches him. He just does it naturally but he's got plenty to his game to become an elite NRL fullback he needs to work at and that'll come with experience and time.

"Where he's at at the moment, he's certainly brought plenty to our team and he's added some different things. He's a different player to Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck).

"The pre-season will be a good time for Reece to work on other parts of his game."

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