The Mole: Iconic fullbacks in awe of Reece Walsh with claim GF performance may never be repeated

Champion fullback Garry Jack has been playing and watching top class rugby league for over 50 years - and he put Reece Walsh's performance last night into perspective with a stunning accolade.

Jack starred for Balmain in the 1980s, playing two grand finals, and gave Walsh's match-winning display against the Storm on Sunday night an amazing review.

"The performance by Reece Walsh last night, was the best individual performance by a fullback in a grand final I have seen," the former Tigers and Kangaroos fullback declared.

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"If he wasn't setting them up, he was running through six defenders to score, and then won the match with three try saving tackles!"

On Nine's Today, Broncos legend and director, Darren Lockyer, expressed his belief that Walsh's performance won't be eclipsed any time soon.

"I've never seen a performance by an individual on a big stage like that, ever," he said.

"I don't think we'll see another one for a long time. He had a hand in every Broncos try, he scored that incredible individual try and he saved four tries. It's a phenomenal performance from him.

"You could see how much it meant to him too. We talk about his flashness and his flair but last night he played tough and it was a complete performance and incredible."

Walsh is the seventh fullback to win the Clive Churchill Medal for man of the match in a grand final since the award was introduced in 1986.

Melbourne gun Billy Slater (2009 and 2017) won the award twice while Newcastle's Robbie O'Davis (1997), Lockyer (2000) and journeyman Darius Boyd (2010) each won it once. Current NRL stars Ryan Papenhuyzen (2020) and Dylan Edwards (2022) have also won the honour once each.

Fullbacks to win the Clive Churchill Medal

• Robbie O'Davis 1997
• Darren Lockyer 2000
• Billy Slater 2009
• Darius Boyd 2010
• Billy Slater 2017
• Ryan Papenhuyzen 2020
• Dylan Edwards 2022
• Reece Walsh 2025

- with Lachlan Harper