NRL star Reece Walsh appears to have split from his girlfriend and the mother of his child, Freda Puru.
The Brisbane Broncos fullback, 20, and Puru are rumoured to have gone their separate ways after reports began circulating on social media the pair broke up.
The couple share a daughter – Leila Arohamauroa – who they welcomed in March 2021 when the Origin debutant was just 18 years old.
The pair are no longer following each other on Instagram, with Walsh completely wiping all photos of his partner from his account.
Meanwhile Puru’s Instagram account has been set to private and her bio reads: ‘My mini & me’ – with no mention of Walsh.
NRL star Reece Walsh appears to have split from his girlfriend and the mother of his child, Freda Puru. The couple share a daughter – Leila Arohamauroa – who they welcomed in March 2021 when the Origin debutant was just 18 years old
A recent post of Walsh’s also shows him laying on an outdoor couch while cuddling his daughter and pet dog Moana.
‘My girls are getting big,’ he wrote in the caption.
The couple look to have split about a year ago, with Puru becoming notably absent from Walsh’s family events and posts following their daughter’s first birthday.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Walsh’s manager for comment.
The pair are no longer following each other on Instagram, with Walsh completely wiping all photos of his partner from his account
A recent post of Walsh’s also shows him laying on an outdoor couch while cuddling his daughter and pet dog Moana. ‘My girls are getting big,’ he wrote in the caption
Walsh will make his State of Origin debut as fullback for Queensland next week, with Kalyn Ponga dropped following concerns over his welfare after another head knock.
Last year, when he was representing the New Zealand Warriors, Walsh admitted he became ‘arrogant’ with his partying and drug taking in the lead up to his arrest for cocaine possession.
He was handcuffed in Surfers Paradise in September 2022 after failing to comply with a ‘move on direction’ by police outside a nightclub near Cavill Avenue.
The then 19-year-old was filmed arguing with officers before he was led away to a police station where a search found he was in possession of cocaine.
The couple look to have split about a year ago, with Puru becoming notably absent from Walsh’s family events and posts following their daughter’s first birthday
Walsh and Puru are pictured at a game wit their daughter, Leila Arohamauroa
Walsh, who escaped with a $400 fine and good behaviour bond, said he’s ‘ashamed’ of his actions and wants to be a better role model for his young fans.
‘It was massive, I learnt a big lesson about not thinking you’re better than everyone and on top of the world,’ he told the Courier Mail.
‘I got complacent and arrogant. It’s been a huge learning curve. I’m glad I learnt it at this age.’
He was suspended for two games and fined $5,000 by the NRL in addition to his criminal sanction.
Walsh will make his State of Origin debut as fullback for Queensland next week, with Kalyn Ponga dropped following concerns over his welfare after another head knock
Walsh previously said his mother’s drug addiction convinced him never to do drugs in a candid interview before his arrest.
After having his first child at 18 with Puru, Walsh said he would never use drugs after learning the lessons from his parent.
‘I wouldn’t say just because of my mum that I don’t want to be doing drugs. It’s just my personal feelings,’ Walsh told the Courier Mail in June 2022.
‘It hasn’t been easy with my mum, but I still say not everyone is as lucky as me, a lot of people have it worse than me.’
Walsh, whose idol growing up was Ben Barba – who was kicked out of the game after being caught in possession of cocaine and assaulting his partner – said NRL players had to be ‘smart’ when being exposed to drugs.
Last year, when he was representing the New Zealand Warriors, Walsh admitted he became ‘arrogant’ with his partying and drug taking in the lead up to his arrest for cocaine possession
Walsh previously said his mother’s drug addiction convinced him never to do drugs in a candid interview before his arrest
‘As an NRL player, you have to be smart. There is always someone watching and there are little kids at home who watch NRL players and dream of being like us,’ he said at the time.
‘I don’t want to be setting bad examples for young kids who watch the game. I don’t want them thinking that it’s OK to be doing drugs.
‘It’s all about setting examples for the next generation.’
Walsh told the Courier Mail he hasn’t drunk since the arrest and says he’s using the incident as a learning curve.
‘Even though it was disappointing and I was ashamed of what I did, I’m happy it’s happened now and not five or 10 years down the track. I could have still been doing the same stuff and having bad habits,’ he said.
He was handcuffed in Surfers Paradise in September 2022 after failing to comply with a ‘move on direction’ by police outside a nightclub near Cavill Avenue
Walsh, who escaped with a $400 fine and good behaviour bond, said he’s ‘ashamed’ of his actions and wants to be a better role model for his young fans
‘It’s something I can learn from and also tell my story to young kids coming through when I’m a bit older and more experienced.’
Walsh said he was feeling a lot better as a teetotaler and when he was drinking he was sometimes too hungover to hold his child.
He fronted the Warriors’ fans via video after his arrest to admit to having the drugs and apologise for ‘getting himself into a bit of trouble’.
‘I was told by some officers last night to move on. I didn’t move on and that led to me getting arrested and taken back to the police station,’ Walsh said.
‘Once I got back to the police station I was searched and I was in possession of a small bag of cocaine, which I had some of during the night.
‘No one else is involved in this. It’s solely on me and I put my hand up. I should never have done it. It’s a mistake that I’ve made, I’m aware of that and I’m really remorseful.’
The New Zealand Warriors fullback appeared in a video alongside the club’s CEO and coach, tearfully admitting to being arrested in possession of the drug
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