{"id":293734,"date":"2023-09-24T10:04:05","date_gmt":"2023-09-24T10:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=293734"},"modified":"2023-09-24T10:04:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T10:04:05","slug":"impossible-to-stop-so-how-do-panthers-defence-bottle-brisbanes-reece-lightning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-league\/impossible-to-stop-so-how-do-panthers-defence-bottle-brisbanes-reece-lightning\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Impossible to stop\u2019: So how do Panthers\u2019 defence bottle Brisbane\u2019s Reece lightning?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns reckon it\u2019s \u201cnearly impossible\u201d. Billy Slater starts by stressing \u201cI didn\u2019t have to defend him\u201d.<\/p>\n

And though Penrith\u2019s defence may be one of the stingiest ever seen in rugby league, keeping a lid on Reece Walsh\u2019s pure pace might be their toughest assignment yet.<\/p>\n

Walsh credits Slater\u2019s influence as Queensland Origin coach as a key factor in his stunning 2023 campaign \u2013 one that would have him pressing for a Dally M medal if not for suspension, and Brisbane preparing a million-dollar extension to be tabled after Sunday\u2019s grand final in any case.<\/p>\n

Slater, and possibly Ben Barba in his prime, are the closest recent comparisons to Walsh\u2019s acceleration and swerve at fullback, which has exposed numerous edge defenders who simply don\u2019t have the speed to keep up with him.<\/p>\n

If Adam Reynolds is playing deep into the line before finding his No.1, or Brisbane\u2019s Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan are providing quick play-the-balls or second phase play, \u201cno one can get a hand on [Walsh]\u201d according to Johns.<\/p>\n

Fittler confirmed as much on The Sunday Footy Show<\/em>, pointing to a Selwyn Cobbo try in Origin I when Stephen Crichton and Brian To\u2019o \u201cjammed in perfectly \u2026 but [Walsh] still got the ball and hit the winger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walsh\u2019s sweeping runs are straight out of Slater\u2019s own playbook. The Storm champion in turn points to the \u2018Double D\u2019 defensive method \u2013 where a defender will try to cover a lead runner as well as an intended receiver \u2013 to try and counter Walsh\u2019s turn of foot.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking at Penrith, Nathan Cleary, I think he can double defend [Walsh] if he gets the support from his inside,\u201d Slater said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s got to happen early. If they can get pressure on the ball-players before the ball gets to Reece, then everyone (in the defensive line) can slide off.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re getting energy from your inside [defence] and they\u2019re putting pressure on the ball-player, you\u2019re going to have that time to slide out and move with your defensive line.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that ball-player is going deep into the defensive line, then you\u2019ve got to make a play. But you\u2019ve still got to shut the ball down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Easily said. But as 25 try assists, 37 line break assists, and 117 tackle busts \u2013 all from just 21 games \u2013 attest, not so easily done.<\/p>\n

Especially when Walsh is showing hints of one of Slater\u2019s other great footballing traits \u2013 a memory like a goldfish, in the best possible way.<\/p>\n

Slater\u2019s ability to move on from a mistake almost instantly during his storied career was legendary. Walsh did the same against the Warriors in Saturday\u2019s grand final qualifier, throwing an early intercept that was picked off for a runaway try by Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.<\/p>\n

A few minutes later Walsh came down the same edge, Walsh learning from the play to dummy and hit Herbie Farnworth with a short ball to answer in kind.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe showed his footy IQ,\u201d Slater said. \u201cHe didn\u2019t shy away from what happened. He would\u2019ve been disappointed with himself when he threw the intercept, that is the play there. You look at Dallin going up past the football looking for that intercept again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen he went back there and fired the ball again. So he\u2019s not afraid to make a mistake Reece. He\u2019s a bit like Cameron Munster.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll be disappointed with what they have done and the error they\u2019ve made, but he\u2019s so brave that he\u2019ll go for the play again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch the NRL Grand Final Exclusive Live and Free on Channel 9 and <\/i><\/b>9Now<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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