The jaw-dropping pass that proved the hype is real about Manly teen

Joey Walsh insists it was just luck. His coach Kieran Foran describes it as pure playmaker instinct. Ivan Cleary says this is a sign of a young footballer with a seriously bright future.

It was a part-time barber’s no-look pass that set the NRL on fire on Sunday night and may have launched a career that many astute judges believe could be anything.

Five minutes into the second half of Penrith’s 18-16 win over Manly, the 19-year-old Sea Eagles halfback, in a moment of courage, pulled the trigger and delivered a superb straight ball to Haumole Olakau’atu.

In only his second NRL game and first start, Walsh’s body shape suggested he would pass out from behind. Instead, he managed to fire a bullet without even looking at his target.

When it comes to headers, they don’t get a great result as Olakau’atu passes the ball to Ethan Bullemor for a try.

It was a rare instinct from a young playmaker who, in another sporting life, might have been preparing for next year’s Rugby World Cup at home with the Wallabies.

“To be honest, it was a bit of a fluke that he was drawn there,” Walsh said.

“We’ve been practicing combinations all week and I had a few moves. He ran a perfect hole, so it was just a matter of getting the ball to him and letting him do it.”

“When you have someone like Haumole out there, you decide on him early.”

Walsh, who replaced the injured Jamal Fogarty, said he was nervous ahead of the match but was no more nervous than usual despite lining up against incumbent NSW and Australian No.7 Nathan Cleary.

Rising Manly star Joey Walsh. Sitthixay Ditthavong

“I had the support of all the players and the coaching staff,” said Walsh. “That gave me a lot of confidence and it was a great game to be a part of. It’s exciting to play the best.”

There are few people who can evaluate playmakers better than Foran, who was smiling despite the result.

“That was a beautiful pass,” Foran said. “To do it like that at that moment of the game shows what kind of talent the child has.

“It’s instinctive, Joey. He’s been doing it against kids in the pre-season and every week in practice.

Joey Walsh’s no-look pass is a weapon in his kit bag.NRL Pictures

“We all know what a tough kid he is. He put his body forward many times. He made some really nice moves. He’s going to get even better. He’s a real future player for us.”

Ivan Cleary, who is often asked about his own son after matches, was highly complimentary of Walsh, who he followed in the NSW Cup.

But the four-time championship-winning coach also offered a cautionary tale.

“As long as we’re patient and give Joey time,” Cleary said. “Because he’s going to go through this now; everybody’s going to tell him how good he is, and then two years later they’re going to tell him how bad he is. He’s got a current coach who knows that story, so I’m sure he’ll help him with that.”

“He did really well. The more good young halves that come in, the better.”

Walsh is a popular name in Manly not only for his talent but also for his profession as a barber.

He runs an Instagram account called ‘Walsh Cuts’ and cuts hair with his friends at a hairdresser in Collaroy once a week.

Teammates often linger after practice to get a haircut from the club’s resident barber.

“They were excited for me,” Walsh said of his friends. “They all came and I had a lot of friends and family [at the game]. “It was pretty special.”

The former Australian Schoolboys rugby representative has signed a three-year deal with Manly in 2024 that will expire at the end of 2027.

Joey Walsh plays with the NSW Waratahs under-19s.

At a time when the Wallabies are still searching for a top-notch No.10, some in the 15-man game may be upset to see Walsh drop the code.

But Walsh is happy with his selection and is in no rush for regular first-class minutes; Foran hopes Fogarty will be back this week to face the Broncos at Brookvale Oval on Saturday. Even if Walsh has to bide his time on the bench, he has no qualms about it.