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Johns: The biggest challenge facing Walsh in preliminary final
Nicholas Quinlan • September 26th, 2025 3:27 pm
Matty Johns has outlined the biggest challenge that Brisbane's Reece Walsh will face during Sunday's preliminary final blockbuster against the Panthers.
The fullback has been in scintillating form towards the back end of the season, having helped lead the charge to getting the Broncos into the top four and into a home preliminary final following a standout performance against Canberra in the Qualifying final.
And if Brisbane is to make the Grand Final and end Penrith’s chances of a five-peat, they will need the 23-year-old at his best once again.
In his way will be Penrith captain Nathan Cleary.
1997 Premiership player Johns believes that match-up will be important in deciding who wins.
In particular, he thinks this will be Walsh’s biggest challenge for the match.
“Cleary vs Walsh, it’s a pretty decent match-up,” Johns said on SEN 1170’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns.
“Cleary’s precision and the way he can compromise his kicks, react to what the fullback does and position himself.
“And Reece Walsh, his raw speed. It’s the biggest challenge for every single fullback is coming up against Nathan Cleary.
“And Connor Tracey saw that last week.”
Denan Kemp agreed with Johns, as he is looking forward to seeing what Walsh can do at the peak of his powers against Cleary.
“What I am most interested to see with Walsh is we have never seen Walshy this fit play Cleary,” Kemp explained.
“A lot of the time when he plays the Penrith Panthers, Cleary just goes side to side, I am going to run you ragged so you’re fatigued.
“So, I am really interested to see a much fitter Reece Walsh to be able to handle the kicking game of Cleary.”
The Broncos are set to do battle with the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium from 4:05pm AEST.
SENQ will have coverage of the match available through the SEN app with pre-game beginning from 10am AEST with Broncos Breakfast, followed by NRL Crunch Time and then SEN League’s call of the game starting from 3pm.
