The kid is a superstar’: Warriors’ 18yo freak ‘teaching veterans lessons’ in Tigers clash
Warriors young gun Reece Walsh has announced himself as a genuine teen superstar after a brilliant first half against the Wests Tigers on Friday night.The 18-year-old was meant to play off the bench but an injury to Ken Maumalo saw skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck happily give up his fullback spot to shift to the wing and allow Walsh to start at the back.
Now we know why Tuivasa-Sheck was so happy to move.
Walsh — in just his fifth NRL game — had a hand in three of the Warriors’ four first half tries. He set up the first two before scoring one for himself to take his team to the lead.
We’ve seen the Roosters’ 18-year-old Sam Walker set the rugby league world alight with his perfectlytimed floating passes and on Friday, Walsh gave him a good run for his money.
Walsh sent Marcelo Montoya over on the left wing with and then did it again, this time on the opposite side of the field with
Tuivasa-Sheck crossing in the right-hand corner.
“The kid’s a star,” he said.
“He’s tested Tommy Talau with that ball three times in the last two sets. Got him the first time, didn’t execute the pass, went back there the next time, almost an intercept.
“This kid is playing without any fear of failure. Goes back there again... the kid is a superstar. What a weapon.”
Walsh topped off with his sublime half with a try in the final five minutes.
It’s incredible to think he couldn’t land a spot in the Broncos’ best 17 at the start of the season but is now performing like a 100-game veteran for the Warriors.
Ennis couldn’t believe the Broncos let the young star walk.
“How did they let him go? Boy, oh boy, this kid is just an absolute pearler,” Ennis said.
“He is taking the Tigers to task. An 18-year-old teaching veterans lessons. It’s incredible.”
Walsh finished the first half with one try, two assists, one linebreak, two linebreak assists, two tackle busts, one offload and 58 run metres.
“There’s players occasionally that just jump out of the ground, they’re jersey-sellers, they pack the stadiums out. Tonight at Gosford, they’re in awe of what this kid is doing. He’s a beauty,” Ennis said.
Between Walsh and Walker NRL fans have been spoiled with teenage talent and it’s set to get even better with 17-year-old sensation Joseph Suaalii confirmed to make his NRL debut on Saturday for the Roosters.
Greg Alexander believes the reason we’ve seen so much talent from Walsh, Walker and hopefully Suaalii is because they’ve been given the licence to play their natural game.
“Reece Walsh is a great athlete with a football brain. He is a fantastic player,” Alexander said.
“He’s playing what he sees... which is what Sam Walker’s been allowed to do at the Roosters and I’m sure Joseph Suaalii will do the same thing when he plays tomorrow. The coaches will say just go out and play.”
