LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Justin Hodges and Nathan Hindmarsh have raised concerns about whether the Broncos might consider leaving Adam Reynolds out of their lineup for the NRL finals due to Reece Walsh's impressive form in his absence. Walsh delivered another outstanding performance on Thursday night, contributing to the Broncos' surprising 30-14 victory over the Storm, which secured a top-four finish.
The talented fullback scored two tries, assisted another, and made five tackle-breaks while covering 134 metres from 14 carries. Additionally, he completed 11 tackles without a miss and had only one error, making it one of the best performances of his career.
This display is part of a remarkable run for the 23-year-old, who has been the standout player in the NRL over the past six weeks. During this period, the Broncos have won five of their last six games, with Walsh netting five tries and providing nine assists.
Astonishingly, the Broncos have achieved four consecutive victories without injured halves Reynolds and Ezra Mam. Ben Hunt and Billy Walters have excelled as their replacements, successfully unlocking Walsh's explosive potential.
Hunt and Walters have been giving Walsh more early ball, allowing him to unleash his skills. Unlike earlier in the season, when he seemed focused on orchestrating plays, Walsh is now running the ball more effectively.
Fans have noted the correlation between Walsh's success as the Broncos' primary attacking force and his previous role of taking a backseat to Reynolds and Mam. This has led to challenging questions about the Broncos' strategy if Reynolds is fit for the incoming playoff round.
While Reynolds is expected to be available for the qualifying final, Mam is also making progress toward a return during the playoffs. However, on the 'Late Show with Matty Johns' Thursday night, Broncos legend Hodges suggested that altering a successful lineup might not be wise. Both Hodges and Hindmarsh recommended that coach Michael Maguire consider keeping Hunt and Walters in the halves based on their current performance, which is allowing Walsh to excel.