Dylan Walker's cheeky sledge at Reece Walsh ahead of Warriors showdown

Warriors star Dylan Walker has taken a cheeky dig at 'pretty boy' Reece Walsh ahead of their showdown as the team prepare to ruffle the feathers of the young fullback. Fresh off thwarting Newcastle's Kalyn Ponga en route to their first preliminary final since 2011, the Warriors must now stop rising superstar Walsh on Saturday.

Walsh was voted by his NRL peers as the best fullback of 2023 having scored nine tries and registering 22 try assists this season. Having made the move from the Warriors to the Broncos this year, Walsh has shined in both State of Origin and for his club.

DARK ARTS: Cleary at centre of nasty Storm call as Luai fitness called into question

HUGE: Ben Ikin's reveal about Billy Slater amid Maroons coach's family dilemma

And Walsh is not short of admirers with Walker, who is one of a two-man partnership with Jazz Tevaga nicknamed 'the bald brothers', says he applauds Walsh's ability as much as his dashing good looks.

However, he isn't ready to let the Broncos fullback run wild this weekend with a grand final position on the line. "He's a good player, a livewire, a pretty boy, he's got everything going for him with a nice head of hair and nice eyes too," Walker said in a cheeky sledge at the 21-year-old fullback.

"I think when you focus too much on one player, you can take your focus away throughout a whole game plan. As good as he is, if we stick to what we do and that's kicking to corners with good linespeed to win those early tackles - you can nullify those sorts of players coming out their own end.

"Someone like Reece Walsh can pop up anywhere and the less opportunity we give him to do so, the more we can lessen his involvement."

Walsh was at his best against the Storm in the first week of the NRL finals having scored one try and set-up another in the 26-0 win. However, the Warriors could look to rattle the 21-year-old with the fullback already seeing a send-off this year during State of Origin Game II.

Andrew Webster ready for Reece Walsh challenge

Warriors coach Andrew Webster is also just as aware of the challenges Walsh poses when the Warriors travel to Suncorp for the must-win clash. And the coach said the team were able to shut down another dangerous fullback the week prior.

"He's extremely talented, what we did last week with Ponga is that we were respectful," Webster said on Wednesday. "We've got to defend how we defend and not do anything stupid.

"It always helps when you bring them off their line because then you give them less opportunity to show what they can do."

The Broncos are heavy favourites to take down the Warriors at home having dismantled Melbourne in the first week of the NRL finals. The Warriors will need to continue their remarkable season and play their best match of the year to stop the rampant Broncos.

with AAP

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.