New Broncos recruit Reece Walsh has lifted the lid on his move from the Warriors, his relationship with Brisbane coach Kevin Walters and his unwavering desire to give daughter Leila the best life possible.
Walsh’s move back ‘home’ to the Broncos after playing for the Warriors over the past two years was the talk of the rugby league world last week.
That’s mainly due to the manner in which he left his junior club, and reports of a heated clash between Walsh and Walters over whether the youngster was ready for first grade footy.
Walsh will put that behind him after signing a three-year deal with the club he first joined as a 13-year-old – something he described as ‘childhood dream come true.’
20-year-old Reece Walsh with his adorable daughter Laila
Boom rookie Reece Walsh training with the Broncos NRL squad in July 2020
He insists there is no ‘bad blood’ with Walters after their dust-up, saying he understands now that the coach was ‘trying to protect him.’
‘What happened at the Broncos was that I was a young kid coming through and I wanted to play NRL … he was always honest with me and wanted to protect me, and make sure that I came into first grade at the right time,’ he told News Corp.
The teenaged Walsh felt he was ready for first grade at the start of 2021, though Walters felt he would be better served plying his trade in the Queensland Cup.
Walsh insists there is no longer any bad blood between himself and coach Kevin Walters (pictured) despite the pair being involved in a tense stand-off at a hotel last year
It lead to a tense stand-off in a Sydney hotel that saw Walsh storm off, demand a flight back to Brisbane and just a few weeks later he was shipped off to the Warriors despite being one of the Broncos most promising rookies.
Walsh has obviously been able to put it behind him, because he’s back – and there is a very special reason for it.
Going by his social media posts, he is completely smitten with young daughter Laila – who makes regular appearances on his page.
Reece Walsh goes out for a bite to eat with daughter Laila
Given the Warriors had been temporarily located at Redcliffe during the pandemic he had still been able to see his partner and daughter.
A recent break-up with his partner and the Warriors relocating to New Zealand meant he simply had to return to Queensland for the sake of his family.
The New Zealand club was obliging, provided a few conditions were met.
Reece Walsh passes during a State of Origin training session with Queensland earlier this year
‘There has been a major change in Reece’s personal circumstances (break-up with partner) which have impacted on his ability to move to Auckland with the club next season,’ Warriors CEO Cameron George said when announcing the move.
‘We are working through his situation and have given him permission, with some conditions, to look at options in Brisbane.
‘It’s not the way either Reece or the club had wanted this to play out but we respect the issues he has,’ said George.
Walsh takes a bath with his daughter Laila
Walsh, who comes from a broken home after his parents split when he was three, was clear what, or who, the number one priority is in his life.
He admitted he can’t make decision just on what he wants anymore – it’s all for Laila.
‘My daughter is the main reason I go out there and do what I do. It is for her. I want her to grow up and know that I love her and that I am there for her,’ he said.
‘I didn’t want my daughter to grow up and think that I am not there … for me to be able to stay in Queensland, I couldn’t give that up, she means the world to me.’
Reece Walsh has been a critical player for the Warriors since moving to the club last year
It is clear the move wasn’t to leave Warriors, a club he is eternally grateful for, for giving him his NRL opportunity – but simply about being close to his daughter.
The fullback reportedly turned down a much more lucrative offer from the Redcliffe-based Dolphins.
There was only one club he could envisage playing for, and money didn’t matter in the slightest.
Walsh training with the Queensland State of Origin side last year after an unexpected call-up
‘I have an awesome relationship with everyone back in Brisbane and I have a lot of really good mates in Brisbane,’ said Walsh when discussing why he chose the Broncos.
‘The decision was never going to be about money. It was always going to be closer to my daughter.’
Reece Walsh posted this shot of daughter Laila all patriotic on his Instagram stories
For now Walsh will continue to ply his trade for the 13th-placed Warriors for the rest of the season.
He is been in solid form wearing the number one jersey, and is expected to be the Broncos long-term fullback from 2023 onwards, giving the young side a dynamite spine alongside Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Jake Turpin.
He unfortunately missed out on the Queensland State of Origin squad due to recently contracting COVID-19, but it’s obvious there will be plenty of maroon jerseys in his future.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk