David Middleton manages to squeeze both
Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga into his top 5 players for 2023:
There is a unique quality about Reece Walsh that could make him a generational player if he continues his present trajectory. The 21-year-old has already achieved more in the game than most players of his age: 60 NRL games, a grand final and two State of Origin appearances, but it is a rare set of skills that can’t be measured by statistics that places him on another level.
The uniqueness is tied to his explosive acceleration, but it is also linked with timing and vision; a rare blend that has already made Walsh one of the most marketable players in the game. ARLC Chairman Peter V’Landys observed during the season that Walsh reminded him of former pin-up player Andrew Ettingshausen. Speaking ahead of the game’s pitch to the American market with the pre-season double-header in Las Vegas, V’Landys said: “If marketed right, Reece Walsh can become one of the best-known Australian sportsmen in America.”
It was a preliminary final performance by Walsh that left many in awe of his ability. As the Broncos ended the Warriors’ bold run, the prodigious fullback showcased his astonishing skills with three try assists and six line break assists in a 30-point victory. It was only a wayward pass that allowed the Warriors to score from an intercept that detracted from a 10 out of 10 display.
But errors are par for the course for a player willing to chance his arm. Walsh subscribes to the Michael Jordan credo: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Walsh made more errors than any player in the NRL in 2023 but no player brought more fans through the turnstiles at Suncorp Stadium than the Broncos’ brilliant No 1.
He played State of Origin for the first time in 2023 and contributed to the Maroons’ series success with several high-quality involvements. In 2024 he is expected to go head-to-head for selection with Kalyn Ponga, a battle that will be of compelling interest to Maroons fans in the first half of the season.
To celebrate the release of the 2023 Official Rugby League Annual, historian David Middleton has picked his top five NRL and top five NRLW players of the year.
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