Latest news with #Walsh
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Walsh makes Origin case as Broncos pip wounded Warriors
An improved Reece Walsh has pushed his State of Origin case as Brisbane held on for a 26-12 win over an injury-hit New Zealand Warriors. The Broncos fullback laid on a try assist, his 11th of the season, on the cusp of halftime and also made a remarkable try-saving tackle against his former team at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. The performance came in a third-straight win for his side (8-7) and hours after incumbent Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of the Origin series decider with a foot injury. Walsh has battled knee soreness of his own in recent weeks but was unflinching in his final test before coach Billy Slater, who picked Walsh at fullback for all three games last season, names his Queensland side for the July 9 clash on Monday. "Reece is ready, it's whether or not they decide to go that way," Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, who led the Blues last year, said. "I actually think Reece's footy is getting better. "He was spoken about earlier in the season about where he was at when he first came into rounds one to five, but I think defensively Reece really grew through that period." A crowd of 43,434 piled in for the first of two games at the venue on Saturday, with the relocated Dolphins v South Sydney clash at night a separately-ticketed event. Seeking a record seventh-consecutive victory away from Mt Smart Stadium, Andrew Webster's Warriors (10-5) were off the pace but then rallied despite losing key troops in the second half. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) didn't return after the break while halfback Luke Metcalf (knee) also hobbled off after Brendan Piakura, who was placed on report, folded him as he passed. Both will have scans on their return to Auckland and fears are the injuries could be long-term ones. "Spoke to the doctors, they said it could be a number of things," coach Andrew Webster said. "Two weeks in a row we haven't executed ... but so much spirit. "That crowd out there, playing in moments like that, we're only going to get better. "I said to the boys, 'A lot of other clubs would love what you guys have got'." Adam Reynolds' pinpoint grubber kick found a rampaging Kotoni Staggs for the first try before Ezra Mam's long cut-out pass put Josiah Karapani over. Walsh set up Gehamat Shibasaki on the bell for an 18-0 halftime lead, the centre's body landing awkwardly on Nicoll-Klokstad's legs as he attempted to save the try. Walsh then beat four men only to be held up over the line to begin the second half. The Broncos fullback had earlier denied Chanel Harris-Tavita a try when he somehow got his body under the ball. Harris-Tavita then missed another chance when he knocked on attempting to ground a loose ball. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck finally had the visitors' first try after 45 minutes as they attempted to drag themselves into the contest. Walsh got involved again, earning the ire of Warriors fans when he won a penalty for being taken out while chasing a Reynolds kick. Reynolds' two-pointer made it 20-6 and then Shibasaki fumbled what would have been the match-sealer with 15 minutes to play. Leka Halasima collected a bomb at the other end to give the Warriors life at 20-12. But wide-open Warriors winger Edward Kosi knocked on with the line in sight and the Broncos got out of jail, Shibasaki eventually scoring the match-sealer. An improved Reece Walsh has pushed his State of Origin case as Brisbane held on for a 26-12 win over an injury-hit New Zealand Warriors. The Broncos fullback laid on a try assist, his 11th of the season, on the cusp of halftime and also made a remarkable try-saving tackle against his former team at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. The performance came in a third-straight win for his side (8-7) and hours after incumbent Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of the Origin series decider with a foot injury. Walsh has battled knee soreness of his own in recent weeks but was unflinching in his final test before coach Billy Slater, who picked Walsh at fullback for all three games last season, names his Queensland side for the July 9 clash on Monday. "Reece is ready, it's whether or not they decide to go that way," Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, who led the Blues last year, said. "I actually think Reece's footy is getting better. "He was spoken about earlier in the season about where he was at when he first came into rounds one to five, but I think defensively Reece really grew through that period." A crowd of 43,434 piled in for the first of two games at the venue on Saturday, with the relocated Dolphins v South Sydney clash at night a separately-ticketed event. Seeking a record seventh-consecutive victory away from Mt Smart Stadium, Andrew Webster's Warriors (10-5) were off the pace but then rallied despite losing key troops in the second half. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) didn't return after the break while halfback Luke Metcalf (knee) also hobbled off after Brendan Piakura, who was placed on report, folded him as he passed. Both will have scans on their return to Auckland and fears are the injuries could be long-term ones. "Spoke to the doctors, they said it could be a number of things," coach Andrew Webster said. "Two weeks in a row we haven't executed ... but so much spirit. "That crowd out there, playing in moments like that, we're only going to get better. "I said to the boys, 'A lot of other clubs would love what you guys have got'." Adam Reynolds' pinpoint grubber kick found a rampaging Kotoni Staggs for the first try before Ezra Mam's long cut-out pass put Josiah Karapani over. Walsh set up Gehamat Shibasaki on the bell for an 18-0 halftime lead, the centre's body landing awkwardly on Nicoll-Klokstad's legs as he attempted to save the try. Walsh then beat four men only to be held up over the line to begin the second half. The Broncos fullback had earlier denied Chanel Harris-Tavita a try when he somehow got his body under the ball. Harris-Tavita then missed another chance when he knocked on attempting to ground a loose ball. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck finally had the visitors' first try after 45 minutes as they attempted to drag themselves into the contest. Walsh got involved again, earning the ire of Warriors fans when he won a penalty for being taken out while chasing a Reynolds kick. Reynolds' two-pointer made it 20-6 and then Shibasaki fumbled what would have been the match-sealer with 15 minutes to play. Leka Halasima collected a bomb at the other end to give the Warriors life at 20-12. But wide-open Warriors winger Edward Kosi knocked on with the line in sight and the Broncos got out of jail, Shibasaki eventually scoring the match-sealer. An improved Reece Walsh has pushed his State of Origin case as Brisbane held on for a 26-12 win over an injury-hit New Zealand Warriors. The Broncos fullback laid on a try assist, his 11th of the season, on the cusp of halftime and also made a remarkable try-saving tackle against his former team at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. The performance came in a third-straight win for his side (8-7) and hours after incumbent Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of the Origin series decider with a foot injury. Walsh has battled knee soreness of his own in recent weeks but was unflinching in his final test before coach Billy Slater, who picked Walsh at fullback for all three games last season, names his Queensland side for the July 9 clash on Monday. "Reece is ready, it's whether or not they decide to go that way," Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, who led the Blues last year, said. "I actually think Reece's footy is getting better. "He was spoken about earlier in the season about where he was at when he first came into rounds one to five, but I think defensively Reece really grew through that period." A crowd of 43,434 piled in for the first of two games at the venue on Saturday, with the relocated Dolphins v South Sydney clash at night a separately-ticketed event. Seeking a record seventh-consecutive victory away from Mt Smart Stadium, Andrew Webster's Warriors (10-5) were off the pace but then rallied despite losing key troops in the second half. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) didn't return after the break while halfback Luke Metcalf (knee) also hobbled off after Brendan Piakura, who was placed on report, folded him as he passed. Both will have scans on their return to Auckland and fears are the injuries could be long-term ones. "Spoke to the doctors, they said it could be a number of things," coach Andrew Webster said. "Two weeks in a row we haven't executed ... but so much spirit. "That crowd out there, playing in moments like that, we're only going to get better. "I said to the boys, 'A lot of other clubs would love what you guys have got'." Adam Reynolds' pinpoint grubber kick found a rampaging Kotoni Staggs for the first try before Ezra Mam's long cut-out pass put Josiah Karapani over. Walsh set up Gehamat Shibasaki on the bell for an 18-0 halftime lead, the centre's body landing awkwardly on Nicoll-Klokstad's legs as he attempted to save the try. Walsh then beat four men only to be held up over the line to begin the second half. The Broncos fullback had earlier denied Chanel Harris-Tavita a try when he somehow got his body under the ball. Harris-Tavita then missed another chance when he knocked on attempting to ground a loose ball. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck finally had the visitors' first try after 45 minutes as they attempted to drag themselves into the contest. Walsh got involved again, earning the ire of Warriors fans when he won a penalty for being taken out while chasing a Reynolds kick. Reynolds' two-pointer made it 20-6 and then Shibasaki fumbled what would have been the match-sealer with 15 minutes to play. Leka Halasima collected a bomb at the other end to give the Warriors life at 20-12. But wide-open Warriors winger Edward Kosi knocked on with the line in sight and the Broncos got out of jail, Shibasaki eventually scoring the match-sealer.
7NEWS
4 hours ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Broncos coach issues bold Reece Walsh statement after superstar stars in win over Warriors
An improved Reece Walsh has pushed his State of Origin case as Brisbane held on for a 26-12 win over an injury-hit New Zealand Warriors. The Broncos fullback laid on a try assist, his 11th of the season, on the cusp of halftime and also made a remarkable try-saving tackle against his former team at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. The performance came in a third-straight win for his side (8-7) and hours after incumbent Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of the Origin series decider with a foot injury. Walsh has battled knee soreness of his own in recent weeks but was unflinching in his final test before coach Billy Slater, who picked Walsh at fullback for all three games last season, names his Queensland side for the July 9 clash on Monday. 'Reece is ready, it's whether or not they decide to go that way,' Brisbane coach Michael Maguire, who led the Blues last year, said. 'I actually think Reece's footy is getting better. 'He was spoken about earlier in the season about where he was at when he first came into rounds one to five, but I think defensively Reece really grew through that period.' A crowd of 43,434 piled in for the first of two games at the venue on Saturday, with the relocated Dolphins v South Sydney clash at night a separately-ticketed event. Seeking a record seventh-consecutive victory away from Mt Smart Stadium, Andrew Webster's Warriors (10-5) were off the pace but then rallied despite losing key troops in the second half. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) didn't return after the break while halfback Luke Metcalf (knee) also hobbled off after Brendan Piakura, who was placed on report, folded him as he passed. Both will have scans on their return to Auckland and fears are the injuries could be long-term ones. 'Spoke to the doctors, they said it could be a number of things,' coach Andrew Webster said. 'Two weeks in a row we haven't executed ... but so much spirit. 'That crowd out there, playing in moments like that, we're only going to get better. 'I said to the boys, 'A lot of other clubs would love what you guys have got'.' Adam Reynolds' pinpoint grubber kick found a rampaging Kotoni Staggs for the first try before Ezra Mam's long cut-out pass put Josiah Karapani over. Walsh set up Gehamat Shibasaki on the bell for an 18-0 halftime lead, the centre's body landing awkwardly on Nicoll-Klokstad's legs as he attempted to save the try. Walsh then beat four men only to be held up over the line to begin the second half. The Broncos fullback had earlier denied Chanel Harris-Tavita a try when he somehow got his body under the ball. Harris-Tavita then missed another chance when he knocked on attempting to ground a loose ball. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck finally had the visitors' first try after 45 minutes as they attempted to drag themselves into the contest. Walsh got involved again, earning the ire of Warriors fans when he won a penalty for being taken out while chasing a Reynolds kick. Reynolds' two-pointer made it 20-6 and then Shibasaki fumbled what would have been the match-sealer with 15 minutes to play. Leka Halasima collected a bomb at the other end to give the Warriors life at 20-12. But wide-open Warriors winger Edward Kosi knocked on with the line in sight and the Broncos got out of jail, Shibasaki eventually scoring the match-sealer.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Walsh issues claim as Ponga replacement: Four things learnt in Broncos' triumph
As Maroons star Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of the State of Origin series decider, Broncos marquee man Reece Walsh issued a compelling message to Queensland coach Billy Slater: he was ready to reclaim his throne. The Brisbane fullback produced a masterclass in his side's 26-12 triumph of the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday, ending an emphatic three-week period on his comeback from a knee injury. Walsh, the Maroons' incumbent No.1 from 2023 to 2024 before being ruled out for this year's series opener, was looking ominous from the outset against the typically robust Warriors' defence – finishing with 118 running metres and four tackle busts. If there was one moment which cemented his Origin credentials, it was in the shadows of halftime – screaming for the ball at the expense of a field goal attempt to fire a short pass for Gehamat Shibasaki to score the first of his two tries for the afternoon. It came after his desperate try-saver on Chanel Harris-Tavita held up the Warriors' five-eighth inches from the line. Walsh will now battle Dolphins sensation Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow for the right to replace Ponga – who suffered a Lisfranc injury on Friday night – but his exploits will no doubt thrust him into the box seat. Tellingly, he has looked a different player to the inconsistent figure he cut before his stint on the sidelines – showing a willingness to take the tough carries out of his own end while coming up with two one-on-one tackles to prevent Wayde Egan and Harris-Tavita from running away. While he had one passage he would love back – caught well out of position for Leka Halasima to latch onto a Harris-Tavita bomb – Walsh has otherwise shown enough to suggest he was ready to answer a Slater SOS.
The Age
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Walsh issues claim as Ponga replacement: Four things learnt in Broncos' triumph
As Maroons star Kalyn Ponga was ruled out of the State of Origin series decider, Broncos marquee man Reece Walsh issued a compelling message to Queensland coach Billy Slater: he was ready to reclaim his throne. The Brisbane fullback produced a masterclass in his side's 26-12 triumph of the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday, ending an emphatic three-week period on his comeback from a knee injury. Walsh, the Maroons' incumbent No.1 from 2023 to 2024 before being ruled out for this year's series opener, was looking ominous from the outset against the typically robust Warriors' defence – finishing with 118 running metres and four tackle busts. If there was one moment which cemented his Origin credentials, it was in the shadows of halftime – screaming for the ball at the expense of a field goal attempt to fire a short pass for Gehamat Shibasaki to score the first of his two tries for the afternoon. It came after his desperate try-saver on Chanel Harris-Tavita held up the Warriors' five-eighth inches from the line. Walsh will now battle Dolphins sensation Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow for the right to replace Ponga – who suffered a Lisfranc injury on Friday night – but his exploits will no doubt thrust him into the box seat. Tellingly, he has looked a different player to the inconsistent figure he cut before his stint on the sidelines – showing a willingness to take the tough carries out of his own end while coming up with two one-on-one tackles to prevent Wayde Egan and Harris-Tavita from running away. While he had one passage he would love back – caught well out of position for Leka Halasima to latch onto a Harris-Tavita bomb – Walsh has otherwise shown enough to suggest he was ready to answer a Slater SOS.
Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shane Walsh out to deliver knock-out to boss who delivered him top club title
A freakish performance - Robbie Brennan was blown away by Shane Walsh's comeback for Kilmacud Crokes. It was the night of September 21st in Parnell Park and the Crokes boss marvelled as Walsh fired 1-4 against Ballyboden St Endas on his return to action, having picked up ankle and hamstring injuries during Galway's run to the All-Ireland final and their defeat to Armagh. 'He hadn't trained properly since the Dublin game," said Brennan, referring to the Tribesmen's All-Ireland quarter-final victory in June. 'He trained during the week and you'd swear there was nothing wrong with him. He's a bit of a freak. I don't know how they make fellas like him." Fast forward nine months and, after three years working together, Walsh and Brennan are in direct opposition for a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals tomorrow as Galway and Meath clash in the championship for the first time in 14 years. Brennan was asked that same September night in Donnycarney about reports that he was to be Meath's new manager, taking up the position after Crokes' county campaign ended, but he wouldn't comment on the speculation. The position was his, however, with Crokes' All-Ireland club final triumph in 2023 ushering him to the front of potential targets for the Royals. Walsh had played a massive role in that success, the final and vital piece of the jigsaw for Brennan to achieve a lifelong dream with his own club. It was in late August of 2022 when the high-profile - and much debated -transfer finally went through as Walsh left his home club Kilkerrin/Clonberne for Crokes, citing the constant demands of travelling west as too much given that he was living and working in the capital. There were plenty who were unhappy with the move but Walsh got on with it and, after his coming off the bench in his first game for the big south Dublin outfit - a facile victory against Templeogue Synge Street - Brennan spoke about the qualities that were evident in his new player. 'No matter when he came, just the fact that who he was and the All-Ireland final and what he produced, and coming to us and the perceptions around us as a big club which isn't actually the case when you drill down into the numbers and that, but look, there was always going to be a bit of noise,' said Brennan. 'But it's done now and he's in and that was the first game to get out of the way and he did decent when he came in. What would we do, turn him away? There is a process in Kilmacud and just because you want to join doesn't mean you get to join. "There's plenty of guys who get turned away for different reasons but Shane ticked all the boxes. You're not going to say no, obviously, when he wants to come and join you. So just fitting him in now is the challenge for us." Brennan had been hugely impressed when Walsh spoke to his new team-mates a few days before the game. "He speaks brilliantly about the game, he sees it very clearly. He understands it as you'd expect from someone at that level," said the then Crokes supremo. 'I don't expect there's a whole lot of coaching on him, I'd say whatever has been done has been done at this stage, at 29. "I don't think we'll add a whole lot to his game. It's more just fitting him into the system and the way we try to play and what we'd like to do. But yeah, he's a big plus." The noise eventually died down and Walsh played a huge role for Brennan over the next three years. Crokes collected back to back Dublin SFC titles in 2022 and '23, successive Leinster club medals in that same period. And then came their crowning achievement, the All-Ireland club crown in January 2023, beating Derry champions Glen. Walsh scored 1-3 of his side's 1-11 total - his goal from the penalty spot bringing the Stillorgan outfit back into the game before half-time. He took an extended break in Dubai afterwards as controversy raged over Crokes fielding an extra player in the final moments of the final. "Things could have been handled better in that scene," said Walsh on his return. "I was probably in the right place at the right time in terms of being away from all the noise about it." He had told Brennan that he would return for a replay if required. "But it's great that there was a line drawn in the sand to it and it's great just to have that medal forever," added Walsh. "We enjoyed every minute of it (the celebrations), you can ask any of the lads and they'll tell you the same. "I hadn't been to an All-Ireland final with Galway and I hadn't been in one with the club, and to hit both in the same year, and just mentally I felt a lot different to how I feel now." Clearly their time together was mutually beneficial but, for Brennan and Walsh, friendship will be put aside for 70 minutes tomorrow afternoon.
