Reece Walsh's perfect response after Broncos try celebration sparks NRL debate
But it was the decision to mark his stunning second half try with an acrobatic celebration that left many questioning the Brisbane No.1. And it was enough to give coach Michael Maguire heart palpitations after Walsh executed a manoeuvre that American gymnastics sensation Simone Biles would have been proud of.
Walsh is a confidence player and the celebration was further proof that the livewire No.1's swagger is back, with some arguing it should be embraced by Maguire, rather than discouraged. But others insisted the Brisbane coach would be rightly concerned seeing his superstar fullback performing backflips when his leg is heavily strapped and he looks a little ginger after returning last month from a knee injury that kept him sidelined for six weeks.
Calling the moment live on SEN League, former NRL star Justin Horo described the try celebration as 'a beautiful 10 out of 10'. But after seeing Walsh appear to prop awkwardly in his stride before running over to score, Horo admits his heart was in his mouth after witnessing the acrobatics that followed.
"Considering the injury and the fact he looked like he was on a treadmill here because he looked like he'd done his hammy. I thought he'd done a soft tissue injury there," Horo said after Walsh briefly appeared to pull up lame before the tryline. "It's almost a perfect 10 out of 10 for the celebration if you're not factoring in that he's been out for the last six weeks with a PCL injury."
Madge watching Walsh doing a backflip try cele with a bum knee pic.twitter.com/jaGou014Ak
— Harold Holt Memorial Pool (@champagnesftboi) July 13, 2025
I wonder how nervous Madge was when Reece Walsh was doing his post-try celebration#NRLTitansBroncos
— James Cheeseman @shaggy84329.bsky.social (@shaggy84329) July 13, 2025
But Walsh says he was just doing his bit for the NRL's Try July campaign, where every try celebration across the month sees $5000 donated towards either the the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation (ASCF) and the Player Hardship Fund. And he suggested the reaction to his celebration was blown out of proportion. "I don't mind mate, it's all for a good cause and I've been doing that stuff my whole life," he told ABC radio after the game.
The Brisbane fullback also insisted there were no issues with Staggs after chastising his teammate for a first-half error, before the pair combined for Walsh's try. "I feel like it's my job to get him involved in the games and I feel like there's a few games there where I didn't do my job to unlock 'Tones (Staggs)," Walsh added. "And I feel like I've just got to keep building that connection with him and getting him that ball where he's good and it's awesome to see him playing some good footy."
Some commentators thought Walsh's spray showed there might be fractures in the Broncos playing group. But others argued it simply showed that they care, as you hardly ever see disinterested players call out their teammates' mistakes.
Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and coach Michael Maguire both stated it was completely normal in the heat of the moment. "We're trying to be perfect out there," Reynolds said after the game. "It's not always going to go to plan, but we're adults, we talk about a situation when it happens. Sure enough, they fixed it up and scored a long-range try so they're working hard, and it's always good to have that feedback on the field."
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Maguire added: "Reece, he loves his footy and he's striving to continually be the best, and that's all the boys and that's the perfection they're chasing. Whether or not it's him trying to get the ball to him early or not, Reece does wear his heart on his sleeve and that's why we love him and the boys love playing with him."
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