Why Cameron Munster is wary of mercurial Walsh

Queensland Maroons skipper Cameron Munster has achieved everything rugby league has to offer, but even he is on edge for what Reece Walsh could produce once the NRL finals launch.

The Brisbane Broncos’ fullback produced what his halfback Ben Hunt defined as “his most controlled game for a while” to orchestrate a 30-14 boilover of Melbourne on Thursday night, all but sealing their place in the top four.

Munster was forced to watch as Walsh triggered everything: scoring twice – his second coming straight after his own 40/20 – and setting up another in a career-best 22 point haul.

On and off the field, Walsh is never far from a headline. His now infamous social media video drinking from a toilet appeared an unnecessary distraction in the lead up to the crucial clash, while he has been both lauded and criticised for his audacious play.

While he has committed 120 errors in his past 54 games, he has received praise for his refusal to go into his shell – his 81 line break assists and 54 try assists in that time have triggered one of the NRL’s most lethal attacks.

And Munster, a two premiership and five time State of Origin series victor, highlighted why the 23-year-old could guide Brisbane to a first premiership since 2006.

“You guys [the media] have been writing headlines about him being rocks or diamonds, and now he’s played really good and everyone’s praising him,” Munster said.

“He’s a class player, if you give some of those guys like Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh time and space they’re going to make you pay.

“They’ve got speed to burn, and speed kills in our game with the six-agains and all the momentum swings. He can take them to the promised land if he’s got his head screwed on.”

There were fears a month ago when star halves pairing Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam succumbed to hamstring injuries that the Broncos’ season would go with them, but Walsh has ensured they have peaked in time for finals.

As Ben Hunt and Billy Walters took the reins, Brisbane have gone on a four-game winning streak – Walsh scoring five tries and setting up six in that time.

Against the Storm, Walsh took on even greater ownership of the side, leading Hunt to admit: “I don’t think we win without him.”

“He’s playing some really good footy at the right end of the year, he’s really coming into his own,” Hunt said.

“I’m calling play out there to try and settle him down, and he’s like, ‘nah, let me take it; let me do this and that’ and you’ve just got to set him free.”

Brisbane could still welcome back a host of players for the qualifying final against Canberra next week.

Captain Adam Reynolds is firming for a return from a hamstring injury, while both Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo (also hamstrings) were spotted running strongly at Red Hill.

Gehamat Shibasaki, who was dropped after arriving at training still impacted by a boozy night, will also come into consideration.

“He’s very sorry, he’s apologised to all the boys,” Hunt said of Shibasaki. “He knows he was in the wrong, and he’s going to make up for it.”

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