Young Warriors newcomer Reece Walsh looks set for another start next week after a standout display helped the team break a two-match losing streak in the NRL.
Reece Walsh. Photo: Photosport
A late call-up to start from fullback, the 18-year-old scored a try and set up two more in a 30-26 win over the Wests Tigers on Friday night.
The impressive performance, in just his fifth NRL match, came after sustained calls from fans and pundits alike to put Walsh in the starting line-up.
While still doing his best to curb the hype around the teen sensation, Warriors coach Nathan Brown admitted he would be hard pressed to not have Walsh in his top 13 for next week's trip to Townsville to play the Cowboys.
"You'd have to think he's obviously going to start again.
"Then we've got a bye, which is great, so a bit of a break and [we can] see where his body is.
"But Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] plays very well out on the wing for us and gets himself involved in some different situations anyway ... he's comfortable there.
"Obviously Reece has got a skillset a lot of 18-year-olds don't really have."
That much was clearly evident against the Tigers.
But Brown said Walsh would not have had the chance to influence the match so heavily had it not been for the Warriors captain.
"The credit needs to go to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for coming and seeing with Addin Fonua-Blake and saying we want to put the kid in the team and I'll happily go to the wing...
"If it wasn't for Roger, [Reece] would have come off the bench tonight but they were pretty clear they wanted him out there and he did pretty well."
Despite praising Walsh, Brown remained committed to playing down the excitement, naming veteran forward Tohu Harris as the team's man-of-the-match.
And the Warriors coach remained committed to ensuring none of the external excitement would negatively impact the rising young star.
"He's a well-raised kid, he's well-mannered. He's got a bit of confidence, as you'd expect. He's confident but not over-confident.
"With all you characters giving him these wraps all the time we've just got to make sure we help keep him grounded."
- RNZ
