Broncos star Reece Walsh is setting his sights on becoming the best player in rugby league, focusing on avoiding distractions and honing in on winning alongside his Brisbane teammates in 2025.
In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Walsh revealed that his drive to be the top fullback and ultimately the best player in the NRL pushes him to improve every day.
“If you’re playing this game and don’t want to be the best, you shouldn’t be playing,” Walsh stated.
“That’s definitely my goal. I want to be the best in my position. By working hard, holding myself and my teammates to a high standard, I know I can achieve anything.
“It’s wild. I never thought I’d make it to the NRL. It always seemed out of reach.
“But now that I’m here, I’m surrounded by great people who push me to my limits, have tough but honest conversations with me, and motivate me to be better every day.”
At just 22 years old, Reece Walsh has already made a significant mark in the NRL, scoring 34 tries in 74 games for both the Warriors and Broncos since his debut in 2021. He’s also represented Queensland in five Origins and made a grand final appearance in 2023.
However, Walsh faced heavy criticism after the Broncos’ dramatic fall from a 2023 grand final appearance to finishing 12th last season. Many pundits suggested he was contributing to a “rock star” culture at the club.
“People on the outside might see it that way, but if you sit down and have a real conversation with someone—talk about their life and what they want to achieve—you get to know them for who they really are, not just based on perceptions,” Walsh said.
Reece Walsh is putting in the effort on the training field. Picture: Tara Croser.
“I’ve learned to keep my circle small and tight. There were some tough moments last year, and it’s easy for people to turn on you and not have your back,” Walsh said.
“I feel much more comfortable in my own skin now. I don’t feel the need to be someone I’m not.”
“I just need to stick to my values and what I stand for—being a good father, caring about my teammates, working hard for them, and not being afraid to have tough conversations or get a kick up the butt when it’s needed.”
In his four seasons in the NRL, Walsh has made the finals only once, having spent two years with the Warriors and two with the Broncos since his return.
The 2023 season was a fairytale for Walsh as he helped the Broncos to a first grand final since 2015, but ultimately fell short after Nathan Cleary inspired the Panthers to an epic comeback victory.
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After such a disappointing 2024 season, Walsh, who played just 14 games scoring 14 tries last year, just wants to get back to winning and playing consistent footy and he believes Michael Maguire has prepared the team better than any pre-season during his career.
“I want to win, I want to put more games together, and I want to be more consistent than I have been the past few years,” Walsh said.
“I’m excited because the level we’ve trained at this pre-season, it’s bloody better than [the level] I have trained at my whole career.”