Brisbane’s star recruit Reece Walsh is still adjusting to being back in the busy Broncos bubble where he is stopped every day by fans who want a photo or quick chat about football.
And the new Broncos No.1 has also addressed the run-in he had with Gold Coast star David Fifita at a Burleigh bar just before New Year’s Eve, which generated plenty of public interest.
It emerged last month Walsh and Fifita had to be separated at the Pink Monkey Bar and Grill, with the venue’s manager telling NewsCorp at the time: “I walked over to them and I said, ‘Walshy, you go mate. Fifita, you sit down’. And then they just dispersed.
“Security walked Walsh out and it was fine. No one grabbed him, no one put hands on him – he walked himself out. Fifita stayed sitting down and talking with his mates.”
Walsh told The Sun-Herald: “I wouldn’t even call it a push and shove. We’re good mates. We went to school together.
“We had an argument, I ended up leaving and getting into a cab. But I actually went back, picked him up and took him home with me.”
Brisbane pin-up Reece Walsh.Credit:Getty
Walsh has quickly been reminded that nothing escapes the league-loving public in his home state, and the interest has continued to ramp up as the NRL season edges closer.
He had not played first grade for the Broncos when he left for the New Zealand Warriors in 2021 and, given his popular position and poster-boy looks, the 20-year-old now has one of the biggest profiles in the game.
“It’s been pretty challenging,” Walsh said of the daily attention. “Walking down the street, or just going to the shops, a lot of people will come up and ask for photos.
“They all come from a good place. I know I was once that person who wanted a photo with [NRL players]. I always make sure I’m respectful. But it can be overwhelming.
“As the club says, this is what comes with playing for the Broncos, we have to uphold standards and make sure we’re always doing the right thing.”
Walsh has relished building his on-field chemistry with skipper and halfback Adam Reynolds, who quickly found out how much the Queenslanders loved their Broncos when he left South Sydney last year. He admired the way a newcomer such as Walsh had dealt with the intense public spotlight.
“He’s very popular, and you can see why,” Reynolds said. “He’s a flashy player with the male model looks. He actually thinks he’s a model. But he handles himself well. He’s always polite and humble – at times he can be cheeky – but he’s doing great things for the club.”
Injury robbed Walsh of a chance to make his Queensland Origin debut a couple of years ago, but pulling on a Maroons jersey remains a huge personal goal.
With Kalyn Ponga shifting to five-eighth for Newcastle this year, Walsh hopes to pour a bit of pressure on “KP″ for the No.1 jersey, especially if he is the one playing regularly in the fullback position.
“It’s been in my head,” he said. “My goal is to play for Queensland but, right now, I need to do a job for Kevvie [coach Kevin Walters] and be the best No.1 I can for Brisbane,” he said.
