Is this a smart move ready to unlock Reece Walsh and deliver the Broncos to the seat of a finals shocker? Pat Carrigan certainly seems to think so.
The Premiers season is about to collapse, but there were signs at the Penrith club last week to suggest a payment not expected until September.
It was all about Walsh playing fullback like fullback – a trick set to be emulated in Saturday night’s showdown with the Cowboys.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Carrigan said when asked if Walsh’s increased involvement would be normal.
“When he runs the ball and wants to be in the game, he puts his hands on the ball.
“I know if I was a defender of the opposition, the less protection he has in his hands, the safer I would feel.”
The Origin cameo
Walsh grew up at centre-half before blossoming into full-back, but it was as a senior player that he threatened to plan a return to the Queensland Maroons earlier this month.
The 24-year-old regularly jumped at wide receiver in the third State of Origin game – having been injected in the second half following the departure of Sam Walker for a head injury assessment – and looked every bit as threatening.
He made the first pass in a series that led to Selwyn Cobbo’s try, and by the time Bradman Best raced home his cross, the kick itself was almost complete.
The half-backs and five-eighths are placed in more aggressive defensive roles in the forward line.
But Walsh’s 88.89 percent tackle efficiency this season is the best of his career — averaging 70.2 percent over his past five seasons.
His kicking game has come in handy for a long time too, and he was on display once again against Penrith to set up the competition winners.
While captain and No.7 Adam Reynolds has one of the strongest boots in the game, the veteran was credited with just six kicks for 188 meters compared to Walsh’s 15 attempts for 495 metres.
Walsh even joked that a long-term move to the halves could be on the cards.
“I grew up playing halfback, so I don’t mind putting my body forward. Obviously I’ll train more there, so that might be something in the future for me,” he said from Suncorp Stadium after the Kickoff decision.
“I really enjoyed it.”
Penrith classes
The signs were ominous early on that Penrith would have to contain Walsh at his best.
Less than four minutes into the contest, Walsh called a pass from goalie Cory Paix in the end zone before firing a weighted ball past the defense to Jordan Riki to open the scoring.
His assist to Kotoni Staggs in Brisbane’s second try was more typical of the fullback – coming from behind and delivering a pass to his center forward.
But in setting up Josiah Karapani’s match-winning try, Walsh took it upon himself to be the master conductor – jumping half dummy in the final game of the set and aiming for the short side, before hitting a cut pass with his wing.
He then stepped up to steal the show – replacing Reynolds as goal scorer and nailing the side’s try.
Walsh’s 86 touches for the match – almost as close as Reynolds (56) and fifth-eighth Ezra Mam (40) combined – is believed to be a record among NRL full backs. His most involvement in 2026 before Friday night was 53.
But Carrigan suggested it wasn’t the game plan to ensure his teammate dominated possession and beat Reynolds and Mam when he saw a shot.
“That’s just part of professional organizations – there’s no ego there, and if you’re worried about how many times you touch the ball, I think your focus is in the wrong place,” he said.
“Those guys are going to get the lion’s share of the ownership, and that’s fine, and we’re going to give back what they’re doing.
“I’ll encourage (Walsh) to keep playing what he sees, and we have to support him in that position. If that gets us two points (in the competition), then we’re good.”
Next time
Despite Reynolds’ imminent retirement, a full-time switch to Walsh is unlikely any time soon, with Jonah Pezet arriving next season and Tom Duffy showing promise in the No.7 jumper.
Brisbane would also be reluctant to lose Walsh’s improved defensive position at the back after he saved two tries in the first half against the Panthers – his first through a tackle on Scott Sorensen, and the second through his exceptional speed to win a run to an infield kick.
It is still too early to crown the Broncos as premiership contenders once again, as they will need to win all seven of their remaining games to secure a place in the finals.
But Walsh proved last year that when he’s on his game, he’s almost unstoppable, as he led a seven-game winning streak to the title.
The club says it doesn’t rely on its custodian to do a one-man rescue job.
“We can’t afford to rest on any laurels – that was great that it happened last year, but it’s game by game,” Broncos assistant Ben Talty said.
Carrigan added: “Obviously you’re confident with what we did last year, but there’s no need to look too far ahead because we’ve got a really good challenge on Saturday.”
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