Still stinging from the knowledge that his on-field outburst let his "teammates down", Broncos fullback Reece Walsh has been working on ways to keep his emotions in check to prevent similar situations in the future when the pressure is on.
Speaking after Brisbane’s big win over the Eels in Round 24 where he starred with a try, a try assist and four line break assists, Walsh admitted to feeling some frustration on the field knowing he could be better, but was able to reset and refocus by staying calm.
“When you get in trouble, you know you are letting your teammates down,” Walsh said of his recent three-match suspension for contrary conduct.
“There were three weeks there where I sat on the sideline, and I let my teammates down and I let the club down. I am working on it; I don't want that stuff to happen again. I really want to learn from it, obviously I am still young, I am in an important role in the team.
“I was disappointed in myself. It was good reflection time about the way I talk to my teammates and when to pull it back in and when to be a bit calmer.
"I am in an important role in the team and at times, I have to have a steady head and that's something I am definitely working on.
“There's some moments out there where the boys are saying ‘calm (down), slow your brain, the team needs you here’, so it's something I'm addressing and it's at the forefront of my mind.”
Reece Walsh try 73rd minute
In the team, Walsh credited the likes of captain Adam Reynolds and forwards Pat Carrigan and Kurt Capewell as key influences who have helped him on the field when things start to get on top of him, while off the field, Walsh has also spoken to mentors, as well as seeking professional advice.
Sessions with noted sports psychologist Jacqui Louder – works with the Melbourne Storm and AFL team Collingwood – have also helped him develop strategies to ‘calm his mind’.
"I am seeing a lady outside the club, her name is Jacqui and she has been pretty massive towards me," Walsh said. “She has been good, putting strategies in-and-around the things that make me frustrated on the field.
"I am a pretty energised person. I get happy easy, I love playing footy, I love winning, I love seeing the boys happy and with a smile on their face and any chance I get to bring some energy in good parts of the game, I will do that.
“There's also parts that frustrate me. But, I feel like the boys are really helping me out there, telling me to be calm and I can feel myself wanting to express myself, but then I'm pulling myself back. It's something I am working on and I will continue to work on. We're going in the right direction.
“When I talk to (Jacqui), I just feel calm, she says the right things and we're trying to put some strategies in place. When I get in these situations, I have all the tools there to fall back on and be positive.”
The suspension for contrary conduct, with his outburst deemed to be directed towards a match official, also cost Walsh the opportunity to play in the third Origin game under mentor Billy Slater.
Speaking before the final match with the knowledge he would be without his star fullback, the Queensland coach shared that he was often in contact with Walsh and that they had addressed his suspension that ruled him out of series closer.
Slater also pointed out that Walsh was still maturing as a person and that sometime the expectations on players displaying that level of skill can be hard to live up to.
“I spoke to Reece a few times, before he went to the judiciary, after he went to the judiciary … I'm very honest with Reece and all the players to be honest,” Slater said.
“Let's not forget, Reece is 20 years old. Take yourself back to when you were 20 and how many mistakes you made and how imperfect you were.
“I don't like thinking about it because there was a lot, I was making mistakes when I was 30. I'm still making them, but sometimes, we forget that when young players come into the game and they play to such a high standard; we forget how young they are and that they've still got development left in them.
“That's a development area that Reece will focus on. He will be better at this in the future … He needs to own that and he needs to be better at that.”
Spending time with Slater in Origin camp has left a lasting impression on Walsh, who shared how his influence made him want to be better.
“Having those few weeks with Bill, he is a perfectionist; one thing I learnt is don't get satisfied with where you are at, there is always work to be done," Walsh said.
"There's parts of my game I'm working on, but also they slip throughout the weeks and I have to keep that at the front of my brain and keep working on it.
"(He taught me) not be satisfied with where I'm at, (so I am) just trying to get better each week and being a better player each week.
“Being disciplined about my game and trying to get better and knowing the parts of my game I have to better at. Coming into the finals and the big games, I can't be letting my team down with errors. It's something I have to fix up and fix up quick.”
Walsh will get his chance to show what else he can do on Saturday when the Broncos travel to Canberra to face the Raiders.
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