Young Warrior Reece Walsh was instrumental in a range of tries against the Tigers, leading to a closely fought win, 30-26. Video / Sky Sport
New Zealand Warriors teenage fullback Reece Walsh has been praised far and wide as the NRL's next big thing after a match-winning performance for the side on Friday night.
The 18-year-old Walsh finished the game with 14 runs for 133 metres, four line break assists and three try assists as the Warriors triumphed 30-26 and moved to eighth on the premiership ladder.
His performance left commentators, media and fellow players gushing at his skillset and potential.
"Reece Walsh, here is a flash of brilliance," Fox Sports commentator Matt Russell said. "Forget hard work, he's all class.
"What a special, rare talent we are seeing emerge."
"An 18-year-old kid teaching NRL veterans a lesson," Ennis said. "How good is he to watch? He is so good."
Ennis wasn't done however, continuing to heap praise on Walsh.
"The kid's a star," he added.
"He's tested Tommy Talau with that ball three times in the last two sets. Got him the first time, didn't execute the pass, went back there the next time, almost an intercept.
"This kid is playing without any fear of failure. Goes back there again... the kid is a superstar. What a weapon."
At halftime, Greg Alexander called Walsh "a great athlete with a football brain".
Former Warriors superstars Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke also joined the chorus of praise for Walsh.
Bro this Walsh kid is off his head. Absolute freak 🔥👏
But while Walsh continued to increase his stock in the game, many pundits were left wondering just how Walsh had ended up with the Warriors after previously being entrenched within the Brisbane Broncos' development system.
"How did they let him go Brisbane? How did they let him go? Boy oh boy, this kid is just an absolute pearler," Ennis said.
Whoever at the Broncos decided to let go of Reece Walsh should never work in rugby league again. Seriously. The kid is a freak #NRL#NRLwarriorstigers
Just a weekly reminder for the Broncos to sack the recruitment bloke. They swapped Reece Walsh who is every bit a future star for.......no one. @mase21#NRLWarriorsTigers
— The Take with Willie Mason (@MasonsTake) May 21, 2021
Can somebody explain to me how Reece Walsh couldn’t get a game at the Broncos?
"You blokes only highlight all the good parts, but he's got some parts he needs to work on, too, as 18-year-olds should," Nathan Brown said.
"He is working hard and he's a good learner and good listener.
"He's an 18-year-old kid, isn't he? When Andrew Johns was 18 or 19 it took Joey about four or five years before he was capable to take the Knights to a premiership, and he is one of our most influential players ever.
"Just game experience and learning, but the defensive work at fullback these days, there's a lot of pressure on them. From Reece's first game to now, he has improved out of sight. He is working hard at that part of his game.
"Things like knowing what type of kick to do, because he kicks the ball well but what type of kick in the game situation, those are things he will learn from experience."
