Reece Walsh: The ‘Justin Bieber of rugby league’ tormenting England
Walsh was the lone indicator of the difference in quality between the two sides in London last Saturday, especially in the opening minutes of the second half.
In Australia’s first attack after the break, Walsh carried the ball 80 meters after a slip from England’s much-vaunted attacker Mikey Lewis. While England resisted the initial push, the ground gained gave Australia the platform to score a superb score with the second try of the match.
Walsh had earlier scored the opening try of the series, completing a comprehensive team move with a swan dive to lift the world number one team after a difficult opening 20 minutes that gave England false hope.
And he added the final blow by sandwiching two Angus Crichton scores in the second and Australia’s fourth try to seal a victory in front of 60,000 fans at Wembley that brought down the hosts with a sickening strike.
V’landys said: “He’s a champion player, so even if you have nothing to do with rugby league people want to see those things. You’ll be impressed by someone like Reece Walsh.”
Walsh’s scores aren’t flashy, either. His defensive play was crucial in providing a platform from which Australia could resist England before switching gears.
She’s been compared to a pop star and is definitely subject to a few unusual quirks. She often takes to the field with painted nails, which she decorates to bond with her four-year-old daughter, Leila.
Last month, a video of him drinking water from a toilet bowl and joking that it helped his muscles recover after matches went viral on social media.
The toilet had been newly installed and had not been used, but the club still had to hastily issue a ‘do not try this at home’ statement.
“I think it comes with the territory,” V’Landys said of Walsh’s off-field activities.
“He’s a young guy. And they’re not really that serious. I mean, plumber is a good job, I guess, but he’s like the rest of us.
“In life you will make mistakes and you have to learn from them.”
