The Reece Walsh factor looms large in Brisbane's quest to return to the NRL finals in 2023 as the flamboyant 20-year-old targets owning the fullback position.
Walsh has returned to the Broncos after two seasons at the Warriors. Brisbane have not played finals since 2019 and he was re-signed by coach Kevin Walters to get them there.
Broncos and Maroons winger Selwyn Cobbo is a strong option and has trained at No.1 this season.
His presence on the park is reminiscent of former Queensland champion Greg Inglis as a young man, but Walsh is not interchangeable as a winger and will get first crack at fullback.
Walsh also has a long, raking left-foot kicking game which will be invaluable to support skipper Adam Reynolds.
You can't miss Walsh at this Broncos pre-season.
On the training field he is loud with his talk. His zip and zing while he darts and weaves at the back is electrifying. During media interviews with other players he chirps up and has a bit to say. It is fun and flash. That is his way.
"Reece is still only a young footballer and learning about the NRL but he has been a great acquisition," Walters said.
"His voice is really strong and he is quite a strong character as well. That has been a positive for us. His energy around the place is very infectious as well. He has always got something to say.
"The combinations he is working on with our spine are really good in defence and attack."
Walters said Walsh was "more vocal" than last season's fullbacks Te Maire Martin and Tesi Niu.
"That is one of the reasons we got him here. He came through our system and we knew his strong points," he said.
Defensive lapses at the end of the last campaign proved the Broncos' undoing and Walsh and the rest of the squad will have to aim up in that area or suffer the same fate.
"We are working hard to be more resilient there and in particular with our goal line defence," Walters said.
The Broncos want to keep their first-choice spine on the park each week to find season-long consistency. Walsh, Ezra Mam (five-eighth), Reynolds (halfback) and Billy Walters (hooker) is the way they will line up barring injuries.
Walters confirmed the ruptured biceps injury suffered by middle forward Kobe Hetherington at training on Tuesday would rule him out for 14 to 16 weeks.
"He is a tough guy and we will get him back around round two or three (in 2023).
"It is disappointing for Kobe but we know his character is strong and he will be back before we know it."
