Kevin Walters calls out Broncos players over 'missing' detail that's hampering Reece Walsh
Reece Walsh has been backed to find his best form after a number of weeks out from club footy.
The Broncos are desperate for a statement win on Friday night against the Panthers and coach Kevin Walters has called out his players to cut out the errors to help provide Reece Walsh a platform to shine. Walters came under heavy scrutiny after opting to rest Walsh, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan after State of Origin Game 2, with the Broncos then going down 32-16 to the Warriors in the NRL on Saturday.
It was the Broncos' fourth consecutive defeat and sees them drop out of the top-eight into 10th spot on the ladder, leaving their NRL finals hopes hanging in the balance. The Broncos now face a grand final rematch against a Penrith side desperate to bounce back from a shock home defeat to the Cowboys, with all three of Walters' Origin stars returning for the Friday night showdown at Suncorp Stadium.
The Broncos admitted they were looking at the long-term plan when resting the representative stars. And Walters has confirmed his team are ready to turnaround their poor form and show they are title contenders once again when they take on the reigning premiers. Part of the criticism for Walters was resting Walsh, who hasn't played for the club since round 12.
After his concussion in Origin Game 1, Walsh was stood down for two games. He was then selected for the Maroons again and played Game 2 of Origin in Melbourne. His Origin Game 2 performance was underwhelming, which has prompted some backlash for the young fullback.
But Walters is adamant the players around Walsh can help him once again find his prodigious talent with just a few adjustments on Friday night. "That creative spark is still there but we have just got to hold the ball," Walters said.
"(The creativity) is missing because we haven't had our discipline right. If we get our discipline right, then Walshy will explode. If we hold the ball that brings players like Reece, Ezra Mam, Deine Mariner and Selwyn Cobbo into the game."
Broncos confident ahead of Panthers clash
Penrith are also looking to bounce back from a loss having rested their Origin stars last weekend. Ivan Cleary has named Liam Martin, Brian To'o, Dylayn Edwards and Jarome Luai having all rested after the Blues' win. Despite a strong Panthers side - minus Nathan Cleary - visiting Suncorp, Walters is confident his team can show NRL fans they are not far off their best.
"We are one of the very few teams that have beaten Penrith in the last couple of years," Walters said. "We are very confident about tomorrow night. When we get our Broncos footy on, with our discipline, we are very hard to beat."
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Walters wasn't the only one confident in Walsh returning to his best. Assistant coach Matt Ballin claimed Walsh's attitude was fantastic all week. "He hasn't had a game since he got concussed...he has been animated at training. He is just a live-wire round the team," Ballin said on SEN Radio.
And Walters pointed out the need of his team to improve their possession as the difference on Friday night. "It was playing to our strengths and using our skills. It is not high risk," Walters said. "It is low-risk footy, but we are a very skilful side when we can control the ball and be very strong with our discipline."