Reece Walsh should be allowed to continue playing high risk football, according to Dean Ritchie, who fears “it could ruin his career” if coach Michael Maguire asks him to get the mistakes out of his game.
Walsh had a mixed game in the Broncos’ shock 22-20 defeat to Parramatta in Round 21 on Friday night.
While he set up a try scored by hooker Billy Walters, Walsh made three errors, and what would have been the match winning try was taken off him because the bunker ruled him to be off-side.
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer >
But veteran journalist Ritchie compared Walsh to former Australian opening batsman David Warner, believing that, like Warner, Walsh’s mistakes should be tolerated, in the knowledge that he will win you games as well.
“He’s an entertainer,” Ritchie told NRL 360 on Tuesday night.
“I said today, he’s like a David Warner.
“He’ll hit a hundred off 60-odd balls but he might nick the next one.
“That’s just what you’re going to get.
“You can’t laud him one week for being spectacular, but then condemn him the following week.”
Ritchie warned there would be dire consequences for Walsh if Maguire asks him to restrain himself.
“If Madge sucks the spirit out of that kid, by saying ‘pull back’, I think it could ruin his career,” Ritchie added.
But fellow panellist Paul Crawley didn’t agree with Ritchie, and believes Walsh needs to try to minimise the ill-discipline in his game.
MORE NRL NEWS
RESERVES WRAP: Warriors statement as Cleary 2.0 explodes; Sexton’s class after axe
MEGA DEAL: Hughes turns back on $1.5m a season to ink mega Storm extension
WHISPERS: Raiders’ bid to lock up imports, weighs up gun’s release to join Dragons
Papenhuyzen linked with BIG code switch | 04:12
“All the great players always say, you’ve got to limit the difference between your best and your worst,” Crawley added.
“With Reece, it’s not even from game to game, it’s from moment to moment.
“And he’s at that stage now where he’s 23 years of age.
“He owes it to the team, to try and pull back on moments.
“Some of those bullet passes or different things.
“His magic is what brought them to life this year, but if they’re to be a hope of winning the comp this year or next year, Reece does have to grow up a bit.
“The great ones do mature and he’s at that age now where it’s probably time for him to get some of those mistakes out of his game.”
