Reece Walsh dominated Latrell Mitchell in their one-on-one battle to underline his status as arguably the best fullback in the NRL and spearhead Brisbane’s 28-18 win over South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
Walsh scored a scintillating solo try and then put the finishing touches on a team effort as the Broncos opened their account for the season in a clash between two first-up Las Vegas losers.
The Rabbitohs are now 0-2 and chasing their tails heading into next Friday’s showdown with their bitter rivals, Sydney Roosters.
But Thursday night was all about Walsh.
No.1 in fullback race?
In a league of extraordinary fullbacks, Walsh has the potential to be the best.
If he maintains this form, he will be one of the favourites for the Dally M Medal and the winner of last year’s top individual award, Kalyn Ponga, will have no chance of reclaiming the Queensland No.1 jersey from Walsh.
Mitchell, James Tedesco, Dylan Edwards, Tom Trbojevic and Ryan Papenhuyzen are also in the mix when the debate turns to which fullback is No.1 in the NRL but based on last year’s breakout season and this performance to slice and dice the Bunnies, it’s hard to say Walsh is not the best going around at the moment.
And he’s still only 21.
“Everything that has happened good tonight for Brisbane has happened around this whizz-kid,” premiership-winning hooker Michael Ennis said with trademark enthusiasm and not what you would call correct use of the English language.
“Brisbane’s little superstar just takes the game again by the scruff of the neck.”
Brisbane’s only concern came when captain Adam Reynolds received treatment late in the match for a knee problem but he was allowed to play on despite his left leg being heavily strapped after carrying the injury back from the US from their opening-round loss to the Roosters.
Reece Walsh. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Walsh cures the Vegas hangover
In their first match back on home soil, both teams started the match like bleary-eyed gamblers crawling out of Las Vegas fumbling for their wallets.
Neither side was crisp in attack and the clunky nature of play led to a scoreless first 15 minutes.
Reynolds kick-started the Brisbane attacking machine into gear when he kicked near the sideline and Alex Johnston was bundled over it by Kotoni Staggs.
The Rabbitohs tried to challenge the call, arguing the kick-chase was onside, but the decision stood and on the next set, Reynolds again tormented his former teammate on the wing.
Brisbane’s skipper slid in a grubber behind Johnston and he was not quick enough to get back to the ball before opposing winger Deine Mariner set sail for the Steeden.
When it comes to sniffing out tries, he’s quite the hunter, Mariner.
Walsh tore the South Sydney middle defence apart in the 25th minute when he sprinted clear of four tiring forwards and slipped out of Latrell Mitchell’s tackle to touch down under the posts in a superb solo effort.
Souths were on the ropes on the half-hour mark when Reynolds cleaned up the crumbs after Mitchell couldn’t secure a hopeful Staggs grubber and was collared by Cody Walker and Damien Cook.
Referee Gerard Sutton quite rightly raised 10 fingers to signal a sin bin after Reynolds was rag-dolled after the initial tackle but he got the wrong Rabbit with Cook getting marched even though Walker was the one who roughed up his former halves partner with a professional foul.
Reynolds raised a few eyebrows by electing to take the two points on offer via a penalty goal and the depleted Bunnies managed to scrape their way to half-time without conceding any further damage on the scoreboard.
Brisbane started the second half in sloppy fashion when Jesse Arthars fumbled a bomb with Siliva Havili scrambling over the stripe soon after.
Despite being outplayed for 40 of the 45 elapsed minutes, Souths somehow drew level when Havili sent Davvy Moale over from close range.
The back-to-back body blows sparked Brisbane out of their slumber and Arthars this time showed top-rate handling by juggling a tip-on from Selwn Cobbo to touch down in the corner for a 16-12 lead.
Walsh set up the play by launching a short-side raid while the South Sydney defence was focused on Brisbane’s main playmakers Reynolds and Ezra Mam lined out to the open side.
Cobbo looked good at centre in just his second match in his new position after an off-season switch from the wing and he doesn’t seem to have a problem shuffling the ball wide which can be a concern when players move one in off the flank.
Mam was solid in his first match since the controversial Vegas incident when Roosters prop Spencer Leniu racially abused him by calling him a monkey, which ultimately led to an eight-game ban for the Samoan internationa.
But he didn’t need to play a starring role with Reynolds directing the team around the park and Walsh adding touches of class from the back seemingly at will.
The 16-12 lead became a 10-point advantage in the 64th minute when Walsh made the defence backpedal before shifting the ball wide to Cobbo, who got outside his defender to release Arthars down the left wing.
As the defence converged, he rushed a left-foot chip kick over the top which just evaded Mitchell’s lunge and bounced up perfectly for Walsh to collect it on the fly.
Souths, who were without injured forward Jai Arrow and suspended marque recruit Jack Wighton, were committed to the task even if their handling continually let them down.
Johnston’s night to forget continued in the 74th minute when he fumbled a put-down in the in-goal area as he tried to reach around Mariner to score a try that could have given Souths a chance to steal victory.
But a couple of minutes later it was Mariner who got over the line when he chipped over Johnston, sped around him and regathered to seal the triumph.
Mitchell showed a glimpse of his star power with the final play of the match to break free near halfway and turn Walsh inside out on the way to the line to cut the final deficit to 10.