The Agenda Setters Rugby League on Channel 7: Reece Walsh on Kalyn Ponga – ‘bang, he was gone’ – Kangaroos star Reece Walsh joined The Agenda Setters: Rugby League live on Channel 7 tonight, laughing off the moment Kalyn Ponga broke past him at the Rugby League World Cup.
Walsh spoke to Corey Parker, David Riccio, Aaron Woods and James Graham about his try, Ponga’s break and his role for the Kangaroos this week. Earlier this month, TV Central covered Kalyn Ponga on The Agenda Setters Rugby League ahead of the Kiwis’ clash with the Kangaroos.
Reece Walsh on Kalyn Ponga: ‘He’s a superstar’
Parker asked Walsh what was going through his mind when Ponga broke past him.
Reece Walsh: “I’d done the goosey and then he tried to take me on the outside and I was thinking, oh, yep, another easy tackle here and then bang, he was gone. So, yeah, mate, he’s a superstar. He’s so hard to go up against. You boys would know, you know, versing full-backs, like you said, and people with good feet. You don’t know what they’re going to do.”
Reece Walsh: “Yeah, it was a tough one, but that’s what the game’s about. It’s enjoyable and I sort of enjoy those moments, just look back on it and have a laugh. And, yeah, I’ll try to get one on him next time.”
Walsh on his try: ‘Keep running’
Earlier, Parker, who has coached alongside Walsh, asked him to take viewers inside the moment he scored.
Reece Walsh: “Yeah, I think just trying to support bossy as, you know, much as much as I could out there and we call it, yeah, push and support and he obviously made a little bit of a line break and, you know, I was there for an opportunity to put myself in a position to, you know, make a play and then, yeah, I sort of, yeah, don’t really know what, you know, happened after that, it just happened, you know, I was just hoping that the big fronty, you know, didn’t get me, I was trying to tell myself to keep running, I was a bit buggered there as you can see after it but, yeah, the boys said if I got caught by front row, you know, they’d never let it go so that’s what I was trying to tell myself just to keep running so I’m glad that we got there.”
What’s next for Walsh at the Kangaroos?
Graham noted that James Tedesco looks set to feature in the Kangaroos’ full-back jersey this week, and asked Walsh about his role.
Reece Walsh: “Yeah, Kevvie asked me if I wanted to play nine and I said, I’ll be right, mate. I think Brails is good to get a game there, mate. But I’ll rest the shoulders. But no, I’m not too sure what my role is going to be this week.”
Reece Walsh: “But like I said, hopefully coming off the injury, I can keep getting some game time and wherever Kevvie needs me, I’ll put my hand up. I know there’s a few sore boys and some boys have had some long years. So yeah, wherever he needs me, mate, I’ll fill in and hopefully do a role. So I’m sort of excited as well.”
The interview aired at 7.53pm AEDT on The Agenda Setters: Rugby League on Channel 7 and 7plus.
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