LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken

Twist of eight: Walsh seeks to break his Panthers run of outs

Reece Walsh is aware of the statistics but prioritizes the broader context in his quest to defeat the Panthers for the first time in his career.

Having faced Nathan Cleary and his team in seven previous matches, Walsh notably fell short in the 2023 grand final, where Penrith's star halfback clinched a 26-24 victory for his side during a critical 18 minutes of gameplay.

The Broncos have received a crucial boost with the return of skipper Adam Reynolds from a hamstring injury, which offsets the loss of the in-form Billy Walters due to an ACL injury.

Additionally, livewire Ezra Mam, who notched a hat-trick in the grand final loss, is back from his hamstring injury and will come off the bench, enhancing their attacking options, particularly with Walsh in strong form recently.

A sun-drenched, sold-out Suncorp Stadium is set to host the two teams, both arriving for this pivotal match following impressive performances, highlighted by their standout players Walsh and Cleary.