Allana Ferguson has revealed details of an off-camera conversation with Reece Walsh that sheds light on the Brisbane Broncos fullback’s mindset and growing frustration with his performances. Walsh endured one of the toughest games of his NRL career in Round 2, making four errors and missing four tackles in the Broncos’ defeat to the Raiders.
Even in Brisbane’s dominant 50-point victory over the Roosters in Round 1, Walsh wasn’t at his best. A key moment in the first half saw him squander a certain try when he failed to pass to a teammate after breaking through the defense. Instead of drawing fullback James Tedesco and setting up a supporting player, the 22-year-old attempted to beat his opponent one-on-one. Realizing his mistake too late, Walsh eventually passed, but Tedesco managed to knock the ball down, preventing the try.
Speaking on the Immortal Behaviour podcast with Andrew Johns, Channel 9’s Ferguson shared how she joked with Walsh about the missed opportunity before his post-game interview. She teased him about bringing it up on air, but Walsh, clearly embarrassed, pleaded with her not to mention it.
“We were talking to Reece off-air before he joined the panel,” Ferguson said. “I gave him a bit of stick and said, ‘I’m going to bring it up.’ He was like, ‘Don’t bring it up,’ and he was really upset about it. It wasn’t just about not wanting to laugh at himself—he was visibly frustrated despite having done plenty of good things in the game. Seeing how upset he was about it says a lot.”
Andrew Johns’ Advice for Walsh
Johns noted that Walsh’s frustration was evident in the loss to the Raiders, with the young fullback feeling the weight of expectations. After Brisbane missed the finals last season, Walsh is determined to get the team off to a strong start in 2025 while also battling to retain his Queensland No.1 jersey amid Kalyn Ponga’s outstanding early-season form. If Maroons coach Billy Slater were picking his squad today, Johns believes Ponga would be one of the first names selected.
Johns advised Walsh to avoid chasing big plays and instead let them develop naturally, especially in the State of Origin arena. “It will come. He just needs to dial it back a little and not go for the big play every time,” Johns said. “In Origin, you can’t force the big moment—you have to let it happen.”
Walsh has long struggled with errors, often stemming from trying too hard or rushing his decisions. However, his teammates remain confident he will respond with a strong performance against the Cowboys on Friday night.
“Reecey is very hard on himself,” winger Jesse Arthars said. “He holds himself to a high standard. At training, in meetings, and around the club, he’s always looking at ways to improve. I’m sure he’ll be pushing to put in one of his best performances. I fully back him.”
