Heated clash of teammates shows how Walsh has saved Broncos' season
But his desire to make an impact – according to coach Michael Maguire, it comes from a resolve to be 'striving continually to be the best' – has reignited a Broncos' season that was teetering just six weeks ago.
After six defeats from seven games, Brisbane had fallen to 11th while Walsh was sidelined with a knee injury.
They lacked fire and questions were being asked of their commitment.
But Brisbane has gone five clashes unbeaten since their star's comeback to move to 5th on the ladder, with Walsh only missing the win against the Bulldogs while serving as Queensland's 18th man for the State of Origin series decider.
Without him, the Broncos conceded 27.2 points on average a game, a figure that has dropped to 17.2 since his return to command the defensive line.
Their attack has also thrived, scoring 30.4 points an outing compared with 19.2 without him – the latter figure dropping to 13.5 following the 42 points they put on the Bulldogs in round eight.
According to Broncos hooker Billy Walters, Walsh's time on the sideline had reinvigorated him.
Such has been Walsh's form, his omission from the Maroons game three side in favour of the Dolphins' Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow when Kalyn Ponga suffered a Lisfranc injury was met with surprise.
But Tabuai-Fidow shone in the game three win, leading his club coach Kristian Woolf to believe it would not be the last time he was spotted in Queensland's No.1 jersey.
It sets up an enthralling selection battle between the trio for next year's series defence.
'You just know if you give him the opportunity he's going to make it count,' Woolf said of Tabuai-Fidow.
'I know what Hammer looks like at his best, and he looks like what you saw.
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"They're elite players in the Australian competition in our game so you want them playing for Australia, but I love where the international game is going," Carrigan said. "The boys represent their culture and their family and gone are the days where you had semi-finals in World Cups where someone was winning by 70 points. "That's where rugby league should be and I think it's only better for our international game if the best players are playing for who they want to play for." The next World Cup will be hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea next year, If Walters succeeds on the Kangaroo tour he will be a hot favourite to retain the position. Carrigan was coached for four seasons at the Broncos by Walters and said he would make an ideal coach of the national side. "His personality, his charisma, his passion for any jersey that he's ever worn and especially for his country would be massive," Carrigan said. "He knows how to bring the best out in a wide magnitude of players from different backgrounds." Australia forward Pat Carrigan wants to play alongside Brisbane teammate Payne Haas for the Kangaroos but will understand if he chooses Samoa instead. Haas, Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow have all represented Australia but will soon make a decision about whether they link with Samoa for the end-of-season Pacific Championships. The tournament is on at the same time as the Kangaroos' three-Test tour of England. Carrigan was asked if he hoped Haas chose Australia. "I'd hope so, as a fan I'll line him up for us and cheer him on," he said. "Him and (Kevin Walters) have got a good relationship so I'm sure Kev will get into the big fella's ears." Carrigan wants the best Australian team possible to tour but understands if Haas, Fa'asuamaleaui and Tabuai-Fidow honour a part of their heritage that is dear to their hearts. "Everyone has different cultural backgrounds and family experiences," he said. "My love to play for Australia and for my country comes from my parents and their hard work so if those boys feel passionate about representing Pacific Island nations or little countries then so be it, that's their choice and I think it makes for a better product. "I don't begrudge them at all." It is a balancing act that Carrigan said the international game had got right after Samoa made the last World Cup final. "They're elite players in the Australian competition in our game so you want them playing for Australia, but I love where the international game is going," Carrigan said. "The boys represent their culture and their family and gone are the days where you had semi-finals in World Cups where someone was winning by 70 points. "That's where rugby league should be and I think it's only better for our international game if the best players are playing for who they want to play for." 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