Reece Walsh left the Brisbane Broncos in 2021 in search of a first-grade opportunity, and his return to Red Hill has triggered the sort of play that has long been expected from the 20-year-old.
Through five games, Walsh sits atop the Dally M leaderboard with his Broncos holding the same place on the NRL ladder. His speed on the edge has helped transform a middling attack averaging 20.6 points per game last season to be the best in the NRL at 29 points per game through five rounds of this one.
Walsh's individual numbers also continue to impress.
He’s already handed out six try assists in four games after finishing last year with 12 in 22 games. His 33.5 touches per game is a 4.5-touch increase on last season while he’s also added another 40 running metres, now up to 169 metres per game.
His three tries in 2023 are enough to clear his 2022 number already.
This Walsh is different to the 38-game version prior, but the success he has been able to generate on the edges is by design and has started in the middle.
Adam Reynolds is a wizard through the centre third of the field despite not always receiving the credit he deserves. The Rabbitohs played with a top three attack throughout 2020 and 2021, and while Reynolds only combined for 15 try assists across the two seasons, his work around engaging defenders through tempo changes in his runs and deception with the ball can’t be understated.
Now into his second season at the Broncos, the veteran playmaker is once again performing his role in the attack with his shape to kick to put the winger and centre on their heels before firing the ball wide one of the most dangerous weapons in the competition right now.
Despite Reynolds' noticeable impact, it’s the improved work of Patrick Carrigan and Payne Haas that has also added another element to the Broncos attack and helped create opportunities for Walsh to work his magic.
The big men creating small gains
Carrigan is averaging a career-high 10.8 passes and 164 running metres per game. He’s a pass and run threat every time he touches the ball, and having Haas in his pocket adds another element for the defence to consider.
Jake Trbojevic is the only prop with more supports than Haas’ 29 through the first five rounds which, given his size, speed and footwork, makes him the perfect player to run beside Carrigan and engage the defence as the Broncos move the ball wide.
Brisbane’s first try against the Dolphins in Round 4 is a prime example of how Carrigan and Haas are first to stress the defensive line in the middle ahead of Walsh and the outside backs exploiting the space on the edge.
As Carrigan approaches the line with Haas tight on his hip, the Dolphins’ four-in defender tightens up. Haas is a two or three-man tackle more often than not, and the back-rower can’t release from him and slide out until the ball is gone.
Arthars opens the scoring
However, Ezra Mam has already bounced to the outside by that point as Kurt Capewell runs a hard line at the inside shoulder of the three-in defender.
It’s only one step, but Anthony Milford’s slight movement towards Capewell is enough for Walsh to skip outside and attack the space between the two and three-in defenders – now a staple of his attacking threat.
They’re only two very minor movements from the defending players, but they’re enough to put Walsh on the outside in space and, importantly, at speed.
Walsh the wonderful
Rinse and repeat
While Carrigan is often providing the middle service and his is certainly the cleanest, this is a repeatable action that the Broncos have found success with using different players. It doesn’t require an elite playmaker that gets deep into the line.
Thomas Flegler isn’t known for his ball-playing ability but against the Cowboys in Round 2, he’s providing the Carrigan pass as Haas and Capewell run the same lines for the same results.
Drinkwater binned
The four-in defender holds on Haas, three-in bites ever so slightly on Capewell, and Walsh is back on the outside linking up with his centre and winger for points.
It’s not a new shape sweeping the NRL, but with Carrigan, Haas and Walsh pulling the strings, it’s one defensive teams are going to have trouble containing all year.
Where Walsh has improved
Walsh is certainly a beneficiary of an excellent Broncos middle.
However, he has also put in the hard work over the summer and greatly improved on the player that featured last season.
What is clear is that we’re seeing a more patient Walsh in 2023. He’s not throwing the pass that isn’t there so often. Instead, he’s picking a player out in the line and using his speed to make the easier pass a possibility.
This was something that we saw clearly in Round 5 against Wests Tigers. Walsh did a superb job getting to the outside of Brandon Wakeham, and with the ball in two hands, holding the pass until the hole opened up for Herbie Farnworth to fly through.
Herbie joins the party
It looks so simple but is something Walsh has clearly put a lot of time into throughout the preseason.
The shifts through Carrigan and Walsh will be at the top of the list for opposing coaches as they scheme for ways to contain the best attack in the NRL.
Brisbane’s 10 offloads per game will become a growing concern if Walsh finds himself with the ball on the back of one too often, too.
Walsh has talked about studying Clint Gutherson’s work rate and wanting to emulate the effort of the Parramatta fullback on both sides of the ball. So far this season, it has felt as though he has been everywhere – a characteristic that we've become accustomed to with the Eels fullback. He’s always active and ready to pounce.
Add his speed, and you’ve got a lethal second-phase option on the edge.
As Carrigan let go of an offload around halfway in Round 5, Reynolds is quick to find Walsh on the edge who flies onto the ball and sends Kotoni Staggs over to score.
Walsh at it again as Staggs goes in
Finding Walsh when the defence is disjointed and on the back foot is a recipe for regular success for the Broncos, who are dangerous across the field.
Walters' side has scored more tries down the right edge (12) than they have done on the left edge (9), yet it feels as though Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo are only just touching the surface of what they’re capable of as a pairing with Walsh feeding them the ball. There is still a lot of growth in this team with the ball in hand.
Despite both Carrigan and Haas missing time in 2022, the cohesion that the book ends have developed with Reynolds put the trio, and those around them, in a position to dominate and compete for a premiership when the next piece of the puzzle arrived.
And while we’re only five games into the season and the best defensive teams will quickly adjust, it appears Walsh might just be Brisbane's premiership-contending piece.