Walsh has responded after his actions were questioned around the league world.
Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh has defended his audacious try celebration against the Titans after sparking debate around the NRL world about whether he should be performing backflips so soon after returning from a serious knee injury. Walsh turned heads in an eye-catching performance for Brisbane on Sunday that also included a heated on-field confrontation with teammate, Kotoni Staggs.
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.”
Reece Walsh responds after backlash to try celebration
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.
