Known for his signature haircut and fiery temper, Reece Walsh is a 21-year-old rugby league fullback, playing for Brisbane Broncos in NRL. Walsh burst onto the scene as a teenage rugby sensation, and since then, the Queensland native has gone on to make 54 NRL appearances, scoring 16 tries.
Reece Walsh Quick Facts
| Name: | Reece Walsh |
| Age: | 21 |
| Date of Birth: | 10 July 2002 |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Height: | 5ft 8in / 177cm |
| Weight: | 88 kg |
| Position: | Fullback |
| Net Worth: | $1 million AUD (estimated) |
| Instagram: | @walshyy07 418k followers |
In this Reece Walsh article:
- Reece Walsh Quick Facts
- Reece Walsh Brisbane Broncos
- Reece Walsh, Queensland, State of Origin
- What did Reece Walsh say to the referee?
- Reece Walsh & Jarome Luai
- Reece Walsh & David Fifita
- Reece Walsh Career Stats
- Reece Walsh Salary & Net Worth
- Reece Walsh Height
- Reece Walsh Nationality
- Reece Walsh Partner / Girlfriend
- Reece Walsh Baby
- Reece Walsh Cocaine Possession
- Family and Teammates
- Extension of Deal
Reece Walsh Brisbane Broncos
In 2021, Reece Walsh joined the Brisbane Broncos NRL squad on a development contract, but shortly after signed a three-year contract with the New Zealand Warriors beginning in 2022, but this was brought forward to April 2021.
On 25 April 2021, Walsh made his NRL first-team debut for his new club against Melbourne Storm.
A year later Walsh would rejoin his boyhood club Brisbane Broncos, reportedly rejecting a $2.8 million contract offer from NRL newcomers, the Dolphins. In July 2022, Walsh was officially confirmed as a Broncos player.
Walsh made his first-team debut for Brisbane in a 28-16 victory over local rivals, the Cowboys, scoring a debut day try, aged 20. Walsh would score two more tries the following round against a struggling Dragons side.
Reece Walsh Stats 2023
In 2023, Reece Walsh made 22 appearances for the Brisbane Broncos, scoring 9 tries and 3 goals from fullback. In attack, the 21-year-old made 26 try-assists, 127 tackle breaks and broke the line a respectable 21 times, averaging almost one a game. In defence, Reece Walsh made 74 tackles with an overall tackling efficiency of 67.9%. He missed 35 tackles.
Reece Walsh, Queensland, State of Origin
In May 2021, pledged his allegiance to Australia over New Zealand and was selected for the Queensland State of Origin squad aged just 18 years old – Walsh would have made history as the youngest-ever Queensland player had injuries not kept him from making his Origin debut.
Walsh would make his Queensland debut during State of Origin 2023, replacing NRL’s highest-paid player Kalyn Ponga at fullback for his side’s first win of the series.
What did Reece Walsh say to the referee?
In June 2023, Walsh was suspended for three matches for verbally abusing referee Chris Butler during the Brisbane Broncos’ Round 17 loss to the Gold Coast Titans, saying, “What the f*** do you mean, c***?”
Walsh claimed his verbal tirade was directed at Broncos teammate Patrick Carrigan, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Walsh was suspended for three games and missed Queensland’s State of Origin Game Three loss in July 2023.
Reece Walsh & Jarome Luai
During his second appearance for Queensland, Reece Walsh was involved in an altercation with New South Wales five-eighth Jarome Luai which resulted in both players being sent off in the final minutes of the game.
After a late hit on Walsh led to a classic State of Origin biff, Jarome Luai confronted the young fullback who retaliated with a headbutt on Luai. NSW winger Josh Addo-Carr reacted, throwing a punch that almost landed on Walsh.
Walsh and Luai were fined and suspended for Game Three, while Addo-Carr was hit with a fine.
Reece Walsh & David Fifita
Reece Walsh and Gold Coast Titans second-rower David Fifita had to be separated by security after coming “toe to toe” at a bar in Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast.
Eyewitnesses said no punches were thrown, but the pair were verbally abusing each other for multiple minutes before Walsh was escorted out of the premises.
“Fifita seemed pretty controlled after nearly a minute of heated conversation. Security stepped in. Walsh just backdoored it quick.”
Reece Walsh Career Stats
| Appearances | 60 |
| Tries | 20 |
| Goals | 72 |
| Try Assists | 49 |
| Line Breaks | 44 |
| Tackles Made | 258 |
| Average Running Metres | 136 |
Reece Walsh Salary & Net Worth
In July 2022, Walsh was officially confirmed as a Broncos player on a three-year deal worth more than $400,000 AUD a year.
Reece Walsh’s estimated salary is $1 million AUD.
Reece Walsh Height
Reece Walsh is 5ft 8in or 177cm.
Reece Walsh Nationality
Reece Walsh was born in Southport, in Gold Coast, Queensland. His father is an Indigenous Australian and his mother is Māori from Hastings, New Zealand.
Walsh spent his childhood in Gold Coast and in May 2021, pledged his allegiance to Australia over New Zealand. A month later he was chosen for the Queensland State of Origin side, aged 18.
Reece Walsh Partner / Girlfriend
Reece Walsh was in a serious long-term relationship with the mother of his child Freda Puru, although the pair have appeared to have gone their separate ways. Neither Walsh or Puru are following each other on Instagram and Walsh has deleted all photos of his ex from his page.
Reece Walsh Baby
Reece Walsh and his ex-girlfriend Freda Puru have a daughter together, born in March 2021, when Walsh was just 18.
Reece Walsh’s daughter is two years old.
Reece Walsh Cocaine Possession
In October 2021, whilst playing for New Zealand Warriors, aged just 19, Reece Walsh was arrested by police at a Surfers Paradise nightclub. Walsh was taken back to the police station where it was discovered he was in possession of cocaine; he later admitted to taking it that night.
Walsh pleaded guilty to charges of cocaine possession and although there was no conviction, was handed a $5000 fine and suspended for two matches by the NRL. The Titans hit Walsh with a $400 fine and a nine-month “good behaviour” bond.
Family and Teammates
Reece mourned his Uncle Jadd, whom he lost in 2022, saying, “Till they meet to part no more.” Under the Broncos, he played with the team in an extension of a local derby, securing them a win. The team also participated in the Ubuntu tournament in 2023, with Reece being featured. He plays with so much energy and js an interesting player to watch. He sees his teammates as family. He spends his vacation with his teammates and his child. Their last point of visit was the Cook Islands. Reece had a good 2023 as he won the 2023 Breakthrough Sportsman of the Year, for which he thanked his fans on Instagram.
Reece is a girl dad as he takes his daughter to almost every game he participates in. He calls her his best friend, best companion, and he does not joke with her welfare. Though there have been no pictures of his current partner, he is definitely not a deadbeat dad.
Extension of Deal
Walsh secured approximately $450,000 in earnings in 2023 under his current contract. However, the Broncos are aware that they will need to offer him a substantial contract extension to retain him in the No.1 jersey for the club. Historically, no Broncos player has exceeded $1.1 million in annual earnings. Nonetheless, recent reports from The Courier Mail suggested Walsh had inked a five-year deal worth $5.5 million, potentially making him the NRL’s youngest-ever million-dollar player and keeping him with the club until 2029. However, Walsh refuted the reports, stating, “Don’t believe everything you read. No deal has been signed,” alongside a photo of himself and his daughter playfully poking their tongues out.
As of 2024, Reece is down with a terrible lower eye injury. We wish him a speedy recovery as we cannot wait to see him play again.