“Unless you’re an apprentice plumber, not many blokes would have installed a toilet and drunk the water out of it. So it’s a bit of a funny joke, but I think among the working class they may have had a different reaction to some people.
“Everyone always wants to ask me about what version we’ll get, but you just get Reece Walsh to be Reece Walsh. I’ll always support him and back him, and I think that’s our job as teammates, to let him play what he sees.”
Enjoying a drink? Reece Walsh on Thursday night.Credit: Getty Images
Leading into Sunday’s Qualifying Final clash with the Canberra Raiders, Brisbane have been unbeaten in four-straight games without star halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam (hamstrings).
Hunt and Billy Walters have stepped up to fill the void, and in doing so, appear to have brought the best out of Walsh – who has scored five tries and set up six, while averaging 195 running metres a game in that time.
“I’m just trying to get Reece involved in the game as much as he can because the more touches he has of the ball the better we’re going to be for it,” Walters said.
Loading
“He doesn’t need anyone pumping him up for confidence, he’s one of the most confident players I’ve ever met, which is a good thing.
“He makes an error, and he’ll back it up with the same play the next set and get it right. If he gets it right more often than not, which he’s doing, we’re going to be a really big threat.”
Brisbane’s form has led to questions about how Reynolds would fit into the team upon his return, with Mam also spotted running at Red Hill.
Maroons coach Billy Slater even suggested on the Sunday Footy Show he would bring the 35-year-old Reynolds off the bench to avoid disrupting a winning spine.
But of the four wins, the 30-14 triumph of the Storm was the most convincing.
The other three came against the wooden spoon-winning Knights, injury-ravaged Dolphins and a 38-30 shootout with the Cowboys – none of who are playing finals football.
As Carrigan affirmed Broncos’ attack coach Trent Barrett would be masterminding how Reynolds can best exploit Walsh – should the halfback be ready to return – Hunt declared a fit Reynolds needed to be a certain inclusion.
“Reyno’s too good of a player to leave him out of your side. If he’s healthy and ready to go, you’ve just got to get him in somewhere,” Hunt said, despite his preference to don the No.7 jumper, rather than shift to hooker.
“He’s our captain, he’s our little general, he gets us around the field, and I think it would be pretty hard to put him on the bench.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
