Broncos legend warns big Walsh switch idea could backfire
Brisbane legend Darius Boyd has cautioned against a Reece Walsh positional switch despite the gun fullback’s big night out against Penrith last week.Walsh basically played a halves role in attack as the Broncos upset the high-flying Panthers 14-12 in Sydney.AdvertisementAccording to NRL statistician David Middleton, Walsh touched the ball 90 times and had three try assists, as well as shouldering most of the kicking duties. Walsh’s previous best possession count was 66 in a game.He still played a fullback’s role in defence, making just two tackles while the halves Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds made a combined 39.Several top-class fullbacks have previously made a career switch into the halves, most famously Broncos icon Darren Lockyer. Cameron Munster also began his career as fullback before becoming one of the game’s premier five-eighths, as Jack Wighton did at the Raiders.More recently the Knights experimented with moving Kalyn Ponga into the halves, although that was abandoned when he struggled with the defensive workload.Boyd played most of his 206 Broncos games in the No.1 jersey but also spent time on the wing, at centre, and briefly at five-eighth.He says while Walsh may eventually move into the No.6 jumper, he should stay at fullback for now.“I think there’s some similarities in those positions,” Boyd said on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER.Advertisement“You think about touching the football, he touched it a lot, and when you have your best player touching the football that team’s generally going to be more successful. And when Reece gets hot, Reece gets hot, as we saw last year.“But there is a freedom that comes with playing fullback. When you’re playing seven or six there is more controlling the game, organising your middle forwards, you are parked on one side of the field, you’ve got to defend more - there are so many challenges and changes there.“Adam Reynolds, Ben Hunt, Ezra Mam, they are doing that kind of stuff for (Walsh) and then he can chime in when he wants to.“Yes Reece could play seven, he could play six. Personally, I probably see it later in his career when he slows down and loses a step, he can create and manage a team, kick and do his thing.AdvertisementAdvertisement“But right now I think his best position is at one.”Walsh was the star of last year’s NRL finals series and led the Broncos to their first men’s premiership since 2006.But the team faces an uphill battle to play finals at all this season, sitting 13th on the ladder and fighting with several other teams for the last couple of spots inside the top eight.AdvertisementWhile they only sit one win behind the Storm (11th) and Raiders (12th), Brisbane’s for-and-against is much worse and they effectively have to win all seven games on the run home.“For and against is a bit of a challenge for Brisbane, that’s basically another win (they need),” Boyd said.“Whether they make finals, or are the team that stops some teams playing finals... it’s going to be an interesting month for the Broncos coming up.”Hampering the team’s run home is the fitness of veteran halfback Reynolds.AdvertisementAdvertisementNine’s Adam Jackson is adamant the playmaker is battling an injury and fears it could derail the team’s push for finals.“Adam Reynolds is clearly injured, we saw it against the Panthers the other night,” Jackson said on QLDER.“It’s affected his kicking. How long he can last in that condition is a hugely pivotal factor. Something is clearly hindering him.Advertisement“I’m surprised last week they didn’t have Billy Walters on the bench.”The Broncos face the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday.
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