Reece Walsh says Brisbane’s own ‘Latrell’ will keep him honest in the years to come as the Broncos have a surplus of top young talent with their eyes set on dethroning Walsh. With the 22-year-old fullback’s former deputy Tristan Sailor moving to the UK Super League in search of a regular starting role, Latrell Siegwalt has emerged as the man most likely to replace Walsh as Broncos No.1 when injury or Origin rules Walsh out.
Siegwalt has been handed a train-and-trial contract by Broncos coach Michael Maguire and the Indigenous young gun has been joined by Lachie West and Hayze Perham at the club, with the trio battling it out to be Walsh’s understudy. However, Walsh knows the trio won’t be content with playing back-up long-term and will ultimately have their eyes set on taking his No.1 jersey.
“It’s exciting, there’s some really good talent out there,” Walsh told The Courier-Mail. “With ‘Tritto’ (Tristan Sailor) going to the UK, I am happy for him and I know he will go over there and kill it. He told me he will be one of the best in the comp.
“There’s some good talent here. There’s Latrell, there’s Lachie West and Hayze isn’t back at training yet, but all the boys are hungry and we’ll be pushing each other. I can’t wait to learn from those guys and continue to grow and play good footy together.”
Race to become Reece Walsh’s understudy heating up
Walsh is still very young and has plenty to learn but is one of the NRL’s most exciting talents. Broncos coach Maguire has full faith in the fullback and signed off on Reece Lightning being handed a bumper new four-year extension worth more than $4.4 million last month.
Walsh has already shown Maguire how keen he is to put a disappointing 2024 for the Broncos behind him after returning to pre-season training two weeks earlier than required. And the star knows there are several players itching to try and win the fullback spot off him irrespective of the massive new deal he just inked.
West, 22, impressed playing for the Northern Pride in the Hostplus Cup last season, with 10 tries from 13 games. While 25-year-old Perham was quickly snapped up by the Broncos following a solid stint at Canterbury. But it is Siegwalt who is arguably the most exciting of them all and he has been invited to train alongside Walsh with Brisbane’s top squad this pre-season.
The 23-year-old was a revelation for the Dolphins last season at fullback, scoring seven tries from 20 games. But with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Trai Fuller both standout fullback options at the club and above him in the pecking order, he decided to join Brisbane on a train-and-trial deal. At 183cm and 86kg, Siegwalt is tall, lean and explosive and there is a belief he also could even be transformed into a centre or winger.
The Broncos have one spot left in their top 30 and are still trying to convince Ben Hunt to return to Red Hill. But if the halfback decides to stay in Sydney, one of the fullback trio is most likely to be rewarded with a full-time contract.
