After silencing his doubters with a thrilling State of Origin debut in Game One, Reece Walsh wants to make sure he continues to make the whole state – including past players – proud, every time he puts on a Maroons jersey.
One of those players is Kalyn Ponga, who Walsh faced off against in an epic fullback battle as the Broncos pipped the Knights on Saturday night.
“KP’s a terrific player and no doubt that if I wasn’t here, he could come in and easily do the job,” Walsh said.
“To be able to share words and see KP after the game and see him in good spirits (was good).
“He really went out there and gave it to us and it was a hard game and I enjoyed it.
“It was awesome to play against him and obviously as a kid growing up, I was watching KP come through.
Reece Walsh sets up Cobbo try
"To be able to share the field was pretty awesome and it was a game that I will reflect on and I am just happy we got the result.
“He's an awesome player and hats off to him, he's had some adversity this year and I feel like he's starting to overcome that and show the player he is and the player can be.
“When you put on that [Queensland] jersey, you want do the whole state and the past players proud, and the ones that you're standing there going to war with, you want to do them proud.
“I think it's about me going out there and doing my job and not leaving any stone unturned.”
Much had been made of Maroons coach Billy Slater’s call to select Walsh over Ponga in Adelaide’s opener, with the Newcastle captain claiming player of the match honours as Queensland clinched the series in Game Three last year.
However Ponga – who confirmed he had contacted Slater to ask not to be considered for any future games in this year’s series in order to focus on the Knights – said he had every faith in Walsh to do the job this year.
“Reece is a quality player, I don't know why there was any doubt there in the first place. Look at the footy that he's been playing,” Ponga told media following the last-gasp loss to the Broncos.
“And you have also go to look at who picked him in that team and the faith that they have (in him).
“You have got some of the best players in Billy (Slater), Cam Smith, JT (Johnathan Thurston); all those brains picked him at fullback.
"I knew he was going to play well.”
For Walsh, who has taken his game to another level since returning to the Broncos from the Warriors this year, working under champion fullback Slater has been a revelation.
"He's a freak … some of the things that he comes up with and he shows you on video or out on the field, it's just, ‘how do you think of them?’,” Walsh said of his Queensland coach.
“You can tell how good Bill was and how good he was at his craft.
“He’s got so much to provide and offer to someone like myself as fullback.
“I am really grateful to be here and to be able to learn off him.”
Walsh also has extra motivation to play well in front of a sell-out home crowd at Suncorp Stadium, with daughter Leila set to be amongst his biggest supporters.
“She's probably one of the first people I think about when I go out, run out on the field and who I want to be there,” Walsh said.
“She's a massive part of where I am today.
“If it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't be in this position.
“I’m extremely grateful for my little one and I love her the bits.
“For her to be there along my journey; it's going to be awesome to look back in 10, 12 years’ time at those moments and show her the photos and show her the videos and to show her that she was here for Dad and Dad wouldn't be where he is without her.”
