LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh has expressed his gratitude towards his mind coach for a recent exceptional performance, emphasizing that her insights could again be pivotal in the upcoming grand final against Melbourne.
The 23-year-old Walsh humorously noted that Sunday's NRL decider would indeed challenge "where her loyalties are at," but he also acknowledged the significant impact Louder's advice had during the intense moments following the Broncos' 29-28 qualifying final triumph over Canberra two weeks prior.
Walsh remained composed under pressure, delivering a remarkable pass that set up the final try for Deine Mariner, enabling the Broncos to edge out Penrith 16-14 on Sunday and secure their spot in the grand final.
In the match against Canberra, Walsh faced a challenging moment when he was sin-binned for head-butting Hudson Young and gestured at the crowd as he left the field. Despite the Broncos trailing 28-12 at that point, he returned to the game with steadiness, playing a crucial role in their comeback victory.
"Jacqui is someone I speak to on a regular week-to-week basis and I had a really good conversation with her after that Canberra game," Walsh reflected. "Obviously they were trying to niggle me and get in my head. I probably took the bait there a little bit and I was lucky enough we came away with the win."