Maroons coach Billy Slater is the perfect mentor to fix the “chinks” in Reece Walsh’s armour as the Broncos star battles a mixed start to the NRL season.
And it could spell trouble for the Blues.
That was the opinion of the NRL360 panel when it analysed Walsh’s form heading into the State of Origin series opener in Sydney.
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While Walsh leads NRL fullbacks in tries scored this season with nine, his 22 errors is the second-most in the competition.
His most recent outing, a defeat against the Gold Coast Titans, prompted a public critique from Broncos coach Kevin Walters who suggested Walsh needs to take a “chill pill” at times.
“Defensively [he’s] got some work to do with the organization of our defence,” Walters said following his side’s disappointing Round 12 loss to the Titans.
“That’s the stuff we can work on. It’s not an attitude thing with Reece. We just didn’t get the numbers right in defence.”
Veteran rugby league reporter Paul Cralwey said Origin had come at the perfect time for Walsh, with the livewire fullback reunited with Slater, arguably the greatest No.1 the game has seen.
“Because when Billy became great it was [because of his [attention to detail, on the ball and off the ball. It was in attack and defence,” Crawley said. on NRL360 on Tuesday.
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“At the moment, with the way Reece’s been playing this year, there’s those moments of absolute brilliance and blinding speed [and] the silky skills. But then, he overplays his hand and goes for the all or nothing play too often.”
NRL360 host Braith Anasta said Walsh is an absolute genius, but agreed with the consensus that the fullback does “have a few chinks in his armour and probably hasn’t been at his best [in 2024].”
Maroons legend Gorden Tallis, meanwhile, pointed to how Slater overcame similar issues at the start of his career as proof he is the perfect mentor to the 21-year-old.
The panel referred to an incident during the 2008 World Cup Final, when Slater collected a Benji Marshall chip and tried to beat the rushing New Zealand defence down the sideline, only to have the space closed on him.
Instead of taking the easy option initially, or allowing himself to be taken into touch, giving New Zealand a scrum in attacking field position, Slater tossed the ball back infield, gifting Marshall a try that all but confirmed New Zealand’s shock World Cup victory.
Tallis believes Slater’s 2008 blunder is one of the “big moments” in his career he’d like to have over again. He likened it to Walsh in the 2023 NRL Grand Final, when he and four other Brisbane teammates fell asleep to allow Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary to score a historic match winner.
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For this reason, the trio believe Slater’s tutelage is crucial to Walsh’s career progression.
“When he’s [Walsh] got the ball he is ridiculous. But [he’s yet to learn] to stay in the game, playing 80 minutes and [think] ‘when I don’t have the ball, what does my team need me to do now.”
Speaking at Maroons camp on Tuesday, Walsh explained some of the lessons he’s gained from the Queensland coach’s tutelage.
“His detail around everything is pretty crazy. It’s awesome just to get things about your body position, the way your shoulders should be, the way your hips should be,” the 21-year-old explained.
“It’s pretty crazy and awesome to get those sorts of things that you don’t think about.”
Adding that Slater is “the best at what he does,” the Maroons No. 1 reiterated “it’s just awesome to be around probably the best fullback to play our game.”
“To get the opportunity to get coached and mentored by him and getting drills at training is a once in a lifetime opportunity. So, I’m soaking that up.”