Broncos freak Walsh likened to NRL legend

Reece Walsh was breath-taking on his long-awaited Broncos debut last Friday night, meshing together glimpses of brilliance he'd shown at the Warriors and producing an 80-minute performance that had greats of the game in awe.Broncos legend Darren Lockyer has joined the chorus of praise, likening the electric fullback to Storm great Billy Slater."Billy was always on the attack, just always looking to attack every time the play-the-ball was there," Lockyer said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER."When Billy played at wing he still wanted to get in there and he'd always be in your ear."I know a bloke called Chris Walker wanted to do the same thing: chip or grubber here or inside here."I didn't listen so much or pick this up when (Walsh) was playing for the Broncos because he's only played for them once. I saw this when he was playing for the Warriors. He's constantly looking at the opposition defensive line."That's what Wally (Lewis) was so great at and that's what I learned watching Wally."Walsh didn't play in round one because of a facial fracture he suffered during the pre-season challenge.When the 20-year-old eventually got his chance in Broncos colours, a debut six years in the making, he was zipping around like a farm dog chasing rabbits.He returned the ball at a breakneck speed, lurked relentlessly around the ruck and ran himself ragged in defence in a 28-16 win over the Cowboys.He also set up a Kotoni Staggs try with a stellar grubber, before putting the result beyond doubt after a Herbie Farnworth linebreak, springing up on his teammate's inside and racing away to score under the posts."It was stunning," Fox League's Greg Alexander said of Walsh's Broncos debut."They are in for a big season, the Broncos, and what a purchase this is going to be."After spending five years on a Broncos development contract before being sensationally poached by the Warriors, Walsh was back in the Brisbane strip and relishing every moment."(Walsh is) just forever looking for an opportunity, and if he's doing that and he's minimising his mistakes in the game, he's going to be very dangerous," Lockyer said.

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