‘When I spotted them’: Walsh explains emotional anthem moment

The toast he ate for dinner ended up all over Allianz Stadium on Thursday night, but Reece Walsh deserves the biggest breakfast Sydney has to offer after he starred for Australia in their thrilling World Cup win over New Zealand.

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Walsh hadn’t played a game for two months after injuring his ankle for the Broncos who went on to miss the finals, and there was plenty of debate after he was named to start over Clive Churchill Medal winner James Tedesco.

But the doubters were quickly silenced as Walsh produced a superb tackle to deny Kalyn Ponga and then raced 80mto score a cracking try as the rival fullbacks put on a show for the ages.

Walsh couldn’t even celebrate his long-range try, as he stayed on the ground spewing up everything he’d eaten over the past 24 hours.

He’s done it plenty of times before games for Brisbane and a couple of times during matches, but this was on another level and prevented him from taking a crucial shot at goal that would have tied things up.

“Two pieces of toast (is all I ate before the game), but that’ll do it to you,” he said in the sheds, with coach Kevin Walters calling him “The Chucker”.

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Walsh hunts down Ponga | 00:40

“It’s been a while since I’ve played a game, and I only had my first bit of skills last Friday. It was good to blow the cobwebs out and get out there for a tough game.

“I’ve been doing that (vomiting) since I was about 12 years old. I don’t know what it is.

“That’s why I took my mouthguard out mid-game because I knew if I had that in my mouth, I was going to gag. And once I start doing that, it’s pretty much game over.

“I don’t know if it’s nerves or the aerobic, whatever that sports science is. If there’s anyone out there that can help me, I’ll pay top dollar.

“I’ve got to bloody get rid of it… that’s probably something I’ve got to take control of and get a handle on.”

The battle with Ponga was one for the ages, with the two star fullbacks both scoring stunning tries in which they beat their opposite number.

Unfortunately, we may not see it again this year after Ponga left the ground with his left arm in a sling.

“He’s a competitive man,” Walsh said.

“I’m pretty gutted that he’s not going to be there playing because I know the fans are pretty lucky to have someone like him playing.

“The boys worked really hard. I feel like we probably weren’t at our best tonight, but we found a way to get the job done and scrambled really hard for each other and backed each other up out there tonight. It was nice.”

Walsh is set to be rested for next week’s game against Fiji, with Tedesco to wear the No.1 jersey.

“When he found out (he wasn’t playing) he congratulated me,” Walsh said.

“The first thing he said to me was ‘whatever you need to prepare for the week and I can help you with, I’ll do’.

“The way he handled it (was special). Being so young, to be able to see an ultra-competitor like that, if I can take anything out of that and the way he handled it, it’s massive for me this week.

“Every session he was there giving me tips, bouncing backwards and forwards with each other at training on what I could work on. He was there answering questions when I was asking.

“He kept grabbing me and said ‘do you need anything? Do you need anything?’

“I can’t wait to see him get his opportunity. We all know Teddy, he’s going to take it.”

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Walsh was incredible in last year’s grand final and on the Ashes tour, but the emotion of playing for his country in front of his family hit him hard during the anthem when he started to tear up.

Those tears returned in the sheds when he explained why it meant so much to him.

“Even thinking about it now, just thinking of my old man, my mum and dad, and having my family there (is special),” he said.

“It’s the first time that they’re watching me put on the Aussie jersey.

“We got letters through the week from our families and I was going to open it at training, but coach said ‘don’t do that, wait until you get back in your room’.

“Sitting there reading the letter and seeing how proud they are of me and how far I’ve come and talking about all our family and friends helping us get to this point (got to me).

“I couldn’t see them in the crowd there. I was looking for them, and then when I spotted them, the emotions started coming out.

“I was just happy that I got to share it with my family. I had my daughter there, my mum and dad were in the stands. It’s probably one of the proudest moments for myself.

“I’m a bit of a sook. I cry over movies and shows, so when moments like these come up, I’m one of those ones that wants to try and soak it in as much as you can.

“Sometimes it’s good to let your emotions out and show a bit of passion and a bit of care.”