Broncos insider responds after NRL club rocked by ugly claims about Reece Walsh at training
Speculation has been swirling around the fitness of Reece Walsh ahead of the 2025 NRL season but AAP reporter Joel Gould has revealed new coach Michael Maguire has the fullback and his teammates in top shape. At the end of last year, Walsh’s fitness came under question with reports the 22-year-old fullback was struggling in pre-season and was at the back of the pack in drills.
Payne Haas was quick to defend his Broncos teammate having claimed he was as fit as he had seen him ahead of an NRL season. Regardless, speculation continued considering Walsh had just re-signed on a $5 million deal.
The Broncos have been put through a rigorous pre-season training schedule after reports standards had dropped in 2024 with coach Kevin Walters departing as coach having failing to make the top eight. However, reporter Gould – who has been a regular at Broncos training in pre-season – has quelled any fears over Walsh’s fitness. The reporter featured on SEN Radio on Friday and told the station Walsh had caught up to speed with his teammates after a gruelling schedule and is looking good.
“I was actually at a press conference when someone asked about that…I have watched Reece Walsh train at the Broncos – week-in and week-out – and I don’t see any difference. He may have come back not as quick and not as good as some of the other players,” Gould said.
“I don’t see anything other than Walsh putting everything into it…it looks good and Walsh doesn’t look off the pace. If he was, he has fixed it.”
Having watched training most weeks, Gould suggested Maguire has been running training like a military operation. One of his big changes came when he banned the players from going shirtless during training. While this could have ruffled some feathers within the playing group, Gould claimed the players have welcomed the change and have all bought into the process.
“It looks like a military operation. Shirts are on. It looks like they are doing exactly what he wants and they are trying to impress him. I would include Walsh in that,” Gould. “It certainly has an energised feel about it. We haven’t had a ball kicked…but it looks good under Maguire.”
Payne Haas defends Reece Walsh after criticism
While there was concern over Walsh featuring at the back of the pack in the fitness drills, Broncos teammate Haas was quick to slam the criticism when it emerged at the end of 2024. The prop – who has led the way under Maguire – claimed Walsh was in good shape with plenty of time left in pre-season before the season starts in March.
“To be honest, Walshy is probably the fittest he’s come back and pre-season is tough so all the boys are having a red-hot crack and they’re going well,” he told 10 News last year. Haas could also find he has a new prop partner this year with speculation Maguire could be set to move Patrick Carrigan into the middle to allow Kobe Hetherington to start at lock.
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