Fresh off his premiership-winning campaign, Reece Walsh has joined the Australia Kangaroos camp with a spring in his step, and it’s not just the green and gold jersey he’s excited about.
The 23-year-old fullback admitted the highlight of his call-up is reuniting with Kevin Walters, the man who coached him through his breakout years at Brisbane.
“I'm excited to see Kev, so should be a [good] one,” Walsh told reporters upon arrival at the team motel. “Just to play under Kev, I'm so excited. The biggest thing I was looking forward to is just getting around Kev and rubbing shoulders with him again. We've got a good relationship, so I'm really excited for what we've got going on. I can't wait.”
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Eyes on the No.1 jersey
Walsh’s impressive grand final performance has thrust him into contention for the starting fullback role, currently held by Dylan Edwards. When asked directly if he wanted the No.1 jersey, Walsh didn’t hesitate.
“Of course, you always want to be in the team,” he said. “Wherever I am, I've obviously got a lot to learn. We've learned off a lot of these boys; Dyl's in here, too. He's been the prime fullback for so many years, so just to be able to rub shoulders with him is going to be good for my game.”
Yet amid the selection talk, Walsh remains grounded, reflecting on the pride of his family and the hunger to keep improving. “You'd hope so. I'm only 23, so definitely mate,” he said.
“I feel like with good people around me, a good circle, that's going to keep me accountable. I only want the best for my mates. I want to grow and I want to be the best person I can be and the best player I can be.”