NRL fans are once again questioning whether Reece Walsh’s defence is up to first-grade standard after the Broncos fullback went missing a number of times on Saturday. Brisbane’s finals hopes are hanging by a thread after they were thrashed 41-16 by the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.

You cannot understate the impact Dylan Edwards has on a rugby league team. Immense talent, bigger ticker 👌🏻 #Origin #UpTheBlues #PantherPride pic.twitter.com/LxEtbSwje2

— Dan (@UnDiluted7) July 18, 2024

Kevin Walters’ side have slipped to 13th on the ladder on 20 points, and are at risk of being six points outside the top-eight by the end of the round. The Broncos were diabolical on Saturday as the Bulldogs showed some attacking razzle-dazzle.

And many pointed out that Walsh was found wanting in defence on a number of occasions. The 21-year-old came into the game under the weather, and had battled the flu throughout the week. The sickness goes some way to explaining his performance on Saturday, but fans were still far from impressed.

When the Bulldogs crossed for their first two tries, Walsh was nowhere to be seen and wasn’t even in the camera shot. And the same applied when Jacob Kiraz crossed early in the second half. On each occasion Walsh had started the play near the play-the-ball, but failed to get across field quickly enough to help out.

His sickness goes some way to explaining his inability to keep running, but Saturday’s game wasn’t an isolated incident. One of the big knocks on Walsh is his defence, which is often found out when he’s not producing the big flashy plays in attack.

Walsh is one of the NRL’s most dangerous players with ball in hand, and can carve up an opposition’s defence at ease. But much like Latrell Mitchell, he doesn’t show up in the right places often enough in defence when the game’s elite fullbacks all do.

Video went viral after the State of Origin decider showing how much work NSW fullback Dylan Edwards gets through in defence. The Panthers fullback produced back-to-back-to-back sprints across field as the Maroons shifted the ball, and popped up in the defensive line out wide to shut them down. It’s the kind of thing the game’s elite fullbacks are known for, but unfortunately we don’t see it from Walsh.

NRL fans call out Reece Walsh over defensive frailties

One fan wrote on social media on Saturday: “If Walsh is so fast, how is he never in shot when the opposition scores? Fullbacks do more than attack in their opponents 20 metres.” Another person commented: “Been saying it for a long time now. He either has no idea how to play fullback, or simply won’t work hard at the back. Gutho (Clint Gutherson) has absolutely no speed whatsoever, but you notice how he’s always there to try and stop tries. Same as Edwards, (Kalyn) Ponga, (James) Tedesco, Pap (Ryan Papenhuyzen). Reece can’t defend.”

Walsh’s defensive weakness gets overlooked when he’s scoring tries and setting them up and the Broncos are winning. But against quality opposition you can’t afford to have a fullback who doesn’t do the hard yards in defence. Another person wrote on social media: “Up against decent opposition, he has one moment of individual glory and then is basically anonymous the rest of the game.”

The Broncos have away games against the Titans and Cowboys, before a bye in Round 24. They then face the Eels, Dolphins and Storm to round out the regular season, and seemingly need five wins to have any hope of making the finals.