‘He leaves with bruises’: Reece Walsh to be targeted on Origin debut

Teenage sensation Reece Walsh is set for a tough initiation into the State of Origin arena.

The 18-year-old will become the youngest Origin player since 1995 when he lines up at fullback for Queensland in Game Two on Sunday night at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

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Walsh has played only seven first grade NRL games for the New Zealand Warriors but has been parachuted into the Maroons camp to bolster their injury-hit squad.

It is a must win game for Queensland, after NSW blew them off the park in a 52-6 demolition job in Game One in Townsville.

And former Blues enforcer Mark Carroll — who played seven games for NSW in the 1990s — believes NSW’s forwards will be looking to intimidate Walsh in his first outing into the intense Origin atmosphere.

Reece Walsh will be targeted by the Blues forward pack in Origin II. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

“Put it this way. If he comes through the middle, he leaves with bruises,” Carroll told Fox League’s NRL Tonight.

“He’s a cheeky player, he’s got great speed. But if he wants to take the middle forwards on, I expect — especially in State of Origin and the capacity of the game — he will get belted through the middle.

“A few of these forwards, they’d be frothing at the mouth.”

Carroll, who also won a premiership with the Manly Sea Eagles in 1996, said the Blues forward pack will be aiming to target Walsh.

“He’s been unbelievable to watch the last six or seven games, he’s a highlight,” he said.

“They’re going to tire him out. So hopefully when he does come through the middle, you whack him not with two players, but with maybe three or four.

“It should zap the energy out of this kid and he won’t be able to cause havoc through the middle,” Carroll said.

The inexperienced Walsh has been picked ahead of Valentine Holmes to wear the No. 1 jumper, pushing the Cowboys star to the wing.

Holmes’ move has seen Broncos star Xavier Coates axed.

Walsh is one of the youngest players ever selected for Queensland and will celebrate his 19th birthday on July 10.

The young star had been overlooked by Broncos coach Kevin Walters at the start of the season, stuck behind Jamayne Isaako for the fullback position.

He only made his debut in Round 7 after signing with the Warriors in another recruitment blunder from the struggling Brisbane club.

Meanwhile, the Maroons have been boosted by the news that Harry Grant has been cleared of a long-term injury to his hamstring.

The star hooker was ruled out of Origin II but is now a slim chance to return for Queensland in Game Three on July 14.

“It’s a low grade injury for Harry,” Melbourne Storm’s football operations co-ordinator Ryan Hoffman said.

“We expect he will be out for 2-3 weeks.”

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