Queensland coach Billy Slater has backed a more mature Reece Walsh to channel his emotions towards a Maroons victory in his first State of Origin match on enemy territory.
The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting players in the NRL and proudly wears his heart on his sleeve when representing Queensland and the Broncos.
Walsh currently has a perfect winning record in State of Origin matches but is yet to experience the challenge of playing in front of 80,000 hostile NSW fans at Accor Stadium, with his only previous game at the venue coming in the 2023 Grand Final in front of a mixed Penrith and Brisbane crowd.
Slater has no qualms about the youngster's ability to handle the rabid crowd on Wednesday and backed the fullback to play his natural game.
"I will just help him be him," Slater said when asked how he'll help Walsh prepare for Wednesday's clash. "I'll help him be as good as he can.
"Reece's got a great want to be the best player he can be, sometimes that gets lost. He's got a great work ethic, he's really respectful, he loves his footy, he loves this colour and his state.
"Like 5.5 million Queenslanders, I'm looking forward to watching Reece Walsh play out there tomorrow night. He's had a great week, he's been a ball of energy and is looking forward to getting his game on."
While the Marrons have enjoyed a settled preparation, the Blues have been forced to navigate multiple injury hiccups throughout their camp.
Halfback Nicho Hynes has carried a calf complaint during the week but looks set to line up on Wednesday night.
Dylan Edwards was not so fortunate and was denied the opportunity to make his NSW debut after picking up a quad injury on Saturday. The Panthers fullback has been replaced by former Blues skipper James Tedesco, who will line up in his 23rd-straight Origin match.
Slater conceded the late change has forced a rethink of the Maroons plans for Wednesday night but remains confident his side is prepared for anything NSW throws at them.
"We've not changed our preparation but we've definitely made sure we're aware of Tedesco's strengths," Slater said. "He's a different type of player to Dylan Edwards.
"He's equally as damaging, equally as influential in the footy team but has some subtleties in his game that we need to be aware of."
Walsh will run out for his third Origin clash on Wednesday night and is on track to become a Queensland legend if he continues on his current trajectory.
In many ways, his path mirrors that of Slater, who's emergence helped trigger an unprecedented era of dominance for the Maroons.
Like Walsh, he made his Origin debut as a 20-year-old and won 11 of the 15 series he featured in.
It hasn't all been smooth sailing for Walsh, however, and he has navigated plenty of challenges over the past couple of years.
The fullback was sent off for his involvement in a melee with Blues five-eighth Jarome Luai late in Game Two and missed the third clash of the series after being suspended for swearing at a referee while playing club footy for the Broncos.
Walsh put those two incidents behind him to star for Brisbane in their run to the 2023 NRL grand final and hit the ground running in the first half of this year.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has spoken regularly this season about the challenges of managing the youngster's emotions while ensuring he plays with the freedom that makes him such an exciting talent.
Slater has noticed a shift in the fullback's attitude this season and backed Walsh to continue developing both physically and mentally over the coming years.
"He's 21 years old," Slater said. "We all mature with experience. He's going to grow. He's a wonderful player now, he's going to be an even better player next year and an even better player in five years' time.
"He's great to work with, he's popular within the group, he loves this environment and loves being part of this team."
The comparisons between Slater and Walsh go beyond their stature, with the fullbacks known for their ability to pick apart opposition defences with their speed and quick feet.
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans has had the chance to watch both players up close, having spent the early years of his career playing alongside Slater.
Given the level Walsh is already at, Cherry-Evans said it's difficult to predict just how good the youngster can be.
"All of the best fullbacks take time in the game," Cherry-Evans said.
"It takes time to refine, to learn the game, so of course I think his best footy is ahead of him but he has set a pretty high bar for himself and that’s why I love playing beside him, he’s a special player."
NRL.com
