Moment Walsh sent MCG wild without even making it onto the field
It turns out Reece Walsh doesn’t even have to make it onto the field to whip fans into a frenzy.
The superstar Broncos fullback was one of two unused bench players for Queensland on Wednesday night as the Maroons pulled NSW’s pants down to win the second State of Origin game 44-24.
Reece Walsh almost made it onto the field for Queensland. .
He was named in jersey No.19, snubbed for the No.1 spot in favour of Kalyn Ponga.
The Queensland camp, including head coach Billy Slater, had refused to divulge their plans to get Walsh into the game and as it turns out he wasn’t needed after all.
But there was a moment during the second half when it looked like Walsh was about to run on, and the reaction from the 91,000 fans in Melbourne just proved the star power he holds.
Blues centre Kotoni Staggs put a high shot on Ponga which floored the Maroons fullback, and it seemed the latter would be forced off for a head injury assessment.
Cameras captured Walsh on the sideline taking his yellow vest off and having a headset put on him by Queensland assistant coach Johnathan Thurston.
As soon as Walsh was shown on the big screen at the MCG, the noise inside the stadium went up several decibels.
“Oh, look who’s coming on,” Blues icon Andrew Johns said on Nine’s coverage.
“If NSW do go down to 12 men with this tackle by Kotoni Staggs, then this man coming on the field... don’t take your eyes off this final 16 minutes.
“Reece Walsh going on the field, don’t take your eyes off this man.”
Queensland legend Cameron Smith pointed out Walsh would only come on if Ponga was forced off.
“Well he’s not going on as yet,” Smith said.
“I think the message came down to Walsh just to say hey, get ready mate.”
Staggs was sin binned but Ponga was not ordered off the field, and so Walsh never made it on.
Johns - a Newcastle legend - was shocked Knights captain Ponga was allowed to stay on the field despite the high shot and his head hitting the ground.
“For anyone who’s not a rugby league fan, Kalyn Ponga has a history of head knocks and concussions,” Johns said.
“He will have to come off and do an assessment. Surely the independent doctor will want him to come off.”
Origin now heads to a decider at Suncorp Stadium - Walsh’s home turf - on July 8.
