Rugby league legend Matthew Johns has weighed into the debate over who Kevin Walters should select for Australia in this year's Ashes series.
For Johns, he believes Reece Walsh should be the first player picked in the Kangaroos squad based on form.
Speaking on SEN's Morning Glory with Matty Johns, he even compared Walsh's recent brilliance in the qualifying final against Canberra, to Nathan Cleary's famous Grand Final heroics in 2023.
"I reckon it’s on par with Nathan Cleary’s 2023, the last 15 minutes against the Broncos, it was incredible," Johns said.
MORE: Why did the Broncos get a penalty goal for contact on Reece Walsh?
The Broncos star had a chaotic 80-minutes after being sin-binned for a fiery clash with Raiders enforcer Hudson Young, before exploding late in the contest to secure his side the win almost single-handedly.
"Both sides were starting to wobble, all of a sudden Walsh gets sent to the sin bin," Johns said.
"[Then he] just comes out totally fresh and blows them away."
While the incumbent Dylan Edwards and champion fullback James Tedesco remain strong options, Johns insists that Walsh offers more than just form on the park - he will bring genuine star power to each contest.
"Kevvie. Reece Walsh has to be the first man on the plane," Johns said, highlighting the 23-year-old's box-office appeal.
Johns argued that England's struggling rugby league scene would benefit enormously from Walsh's presence, with his large following capable of drawing capacity crowds and attention.
"When they went to Newcastle, there were thousands at every training session to watch him and going over to England, it would be enormous for the game," he said.
With Edwards battling inconsistency and Tedesco putting together one of the best seasons of his career, Walters and the selectors face a tough decision. But Johns insists that Walsh is essential to the tour.
"You think about a guy like Reece, if you want to sell the game, he’s the selling point," Johns concluded.