Reece Walsh breaks silence on ‘disappointing’ Origin snub
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Superstar Broncos fullback Reece Walsh admits it was “disappointing” to be snubbed at the selection table for State of Origin I but says he hadn’t been living up to Queensland’s standards.
Asked if he believed he could make an impact off the six-man bench in game two on June 17, he said he was purely focused on helping the Broncos revive their floundering title defence.
Reece Walsh. NRL Imagery
Walsh spoke publicly on Wednesday for the first time since Maroons coach Billy Slater’s shock decision to not name last year’s Clive Churchill Medallist in the squad for game one.
“It was disappointing, mate. Obviously [as a] young Queenslander all you want to do is go and play for Queensland. To not be named and get that call was disappointing,” Walsh told reporters at Broncos headquarters.
“But I know the standards it takes to play for Queensland and I’m a realist and I’m honest with myself, and I probably haven’t been living up to those standards that it takes to wear that Queensland jersey. I feel like that’s what makes it so great; once you put that jersey on you know what it takes to get back there. And like I said, I’m a realist, mate, and I understand that I haven’t been upholding those standards.
“It’s about putting in the hard work here at training, relaying that back onto the field, and if I can keep working hard in those areas that I need to I’m sure it’ll turn.”
Slater will see how round 14 of the NRL season pans out before finalising his squad for game two.
Brisbane playmaker Ezra Mam has been axed for the Broncos’ clash with the Titans on Saturday night, but whether Slater cuts him from his six-man bench for game two remains to be seen.
Asked if he could do some damage off the bench at the MCG, Walsh laughed: “Oh, I’d have a crack in the middle, mate.”
But he said he was entirely focused on kick-starting Brisbane’s faltering season after a 5-7 start that has them languishing in 11th on the ladder.
“No, look, honestly, I’m just worried about playing for the Broncos and getting our season back on track,” he said.
“It’d be nice to be in that arena and be amongst the Queenslanders and do that.
“But my full focus right now is playing good footy for the Broncos and working really hard here in this building, and whatever comes, comes.”
Grant Anderson, who will line up in the centres on Saturday night after recovering from a knee injury, shed light on how Mam had responded to his axing.
“Ezra’s a professional; he’ll put the team first no matter what,” Anderson said.
“If Madge made that call, he’s for it, and Ezra put his head down today at training and did his thing.
“And if he gets another opportunity, I’d dare say it’d be – I wouldn’t want to be that side on the other end of it.”
Tom Duffy will take Mam’s spot at five-eighth and partner Adam Reynolds in the halves.
“Every time he [Duffy] has stepped in this year, he’s done a job,” Anderson said.
