LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Brisbane Broncos fullback, Reece Walsh, broke his nine-month media silence on Monday in a move signaling changes under coach Michael Maguire.
The young star had come under scrutiny in August for allegedly breaching NRL rules regarding player availability for media obligations.
Questions arose about preferential treatment for certain players, including Gold Coast Titans' David Fifita.
Walsh, who last faced the press in February in America before the Broncos' Vegas game, had avoided media scrums throughout the season, only participating in individual interviews with the Courier Mail and team website.
The recent press conference marked his return to group media interactions, hinting at a new era under Maguire where all players are treated equally.
Previous suspicions of special treatment for Walsh are now put to rest, with Maguire showing a level playing field for all.
The fullback's willingness to face the media suggests a team culture shift, with no player immune to press obligations moving forward.