Brisbane Broncos 26, Melbourne Storm 22. It was a fair reflection of the on field action in last Sunday’s NRL Grand Final.
But numbers or words, cannot accurately describe the impact Brisbane’s dynamic fullback had on this 80-minute period of total excitement and entertainment.
No player since the great Wally Lewis has had as much of an effect on the outcome of a game.
What Reece Walsh produced for the Broncos during the Grand Final on Sunday will, I’m sure, have many comparing it to the effects the King had on any game he played during his reign.
Rugby league is a team game, and the Broncos are a great team. But, let’s be fair dinkum about this.
Walsh produced the match winners to get the Broncos into the Final.
And once there, he delivered the “coup de grace” to send the Storm back to Melbourne with nothing to show for their own great season.
I was fortunate enough to coach the great Ellery Hanley in his prime when I was at Wigan, and like Wally, Hanley could change the game in a moment of sheer brilliance. I saw those moments from Walsh on Sunday.
He is a “once in a lifetime” player, but with this will come many moments that will challenge him in ways he may not be expecting. Feral critics are probably among these challenges and, to be fair, they have always been around.
But it is the responsibility of being a good example to the millions of young people in particular that can prove most challenging for any young person able to deliver superstar performances in their chosen field.
History is littered with the petals of “the tall poppy syndrome” that unfortunately is still alive and well, even in this modern technical age.
I, for one, am looking forward to watching this brilliant young player, Reece Walsh, develop into what could be, the best player of all time – the ball is in his court!
