‘I know I can get better’: Walsh believes his best is ahead of him

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Reece Walsh has provided an ominous warning to his opponents, predicting that he is only going to get better as an NRL player.

Walsh is one of seven debutants in the Kangaroos squad that will fly out of Sydney on Wednesday morning for three Ashes Tests against England beginning at Wembley on October 25. The Brisbane fullback is the biggest star in the game after earning the Clive Churchill medal in his side’s comeback grand final win against Melbourne, culminating in his selection for the tour.

Only last week his sports psychologist, Jacqui Louder, who has worked with Walsh for the past two-and-a-half years, predicted his best football was yet to come. It’s a sentiment shared by the Broncos pin-up, who feels there’s room for more improvement.

“You’d hope so. I’m only 23, so definitely mate,” Walsh said as the Australian squad gathered at the Sydney Pullman Airport Hotel on Tuesday.

“I feel like with good people around me, a good circle, that’s going to keep me accountable. I only want the best for my mates. I want to grow and I want to be the best person I can be and the best player I can be.”

Walsh has made a strong case to be named the Australian No.1 jersey after producing a stellar six weeks of football. However, he will face stiff competition from incumbent custodian Dylan Edwards.

Reece Walsh is excited about touring with the Kangaroos.

“Of course, you always want to be in the team,” Walsh said. “Wherever I am, I’ve obviously got a lot to learn. We’ve learned off a lot of these boys; Dyl’s in here, too.

“He’s been fullback for so many years, so just to be able to rub shoulders with him is going to help my game.”

Walsh said the chance to represent Australia, on the first Ashes trip in 22 years, was a dream come true.

“Oh mate, to play for your country, I think it’s probably one of the biggest things you can do in the game,” he said. “I just gave my family and that a hug before I left and I saw how proud they were, how much it meant.

Walsh will link with his former Broncos coach, Kevin Walters.

“To be able to do that [with] the world-class players in the team, I’m just grateful to be in camp and I can’t wait just to soak it up … It’s pretty crazy, it’s something I’m looking forward to. I’ve reflected on the history [of Ashes tours] and all that sort of stuff, so, it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Walsh has previously been coached by Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters and said the chance to reunite with the former Broncos mentor would be a trip highlight.

“It’s been good, I feel really good to be in camp, obviously meeting all the boys and stuff.

“I’m excited to see Kev, so should be a [good] one. Massive, just to play under Kev, I’m so excited. The biggest thing I was looking forward to is just getting around Kev and rubbing shoulders with him again. We’ve got a good relationship, so I’m really excited for what we’ve got going on. I can’t wait.”

Choosing a fullback will be just one of several welcome headaches for Walters. The halves spots will also be hotly contested, with Nathan Cleary, Mitchell Moses, Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden and Ethan Strange are all on the tour.

“I think it’s awesome,” Cleary said of the competition for spots. ” I’m really looking forward to rubbing shoulders with those guys and getting to learn off each other. I think ultimately it will make us all better.”

Dearden added: “If you look at Origin, it’s a team game, it wasn’t halfback against halfback or anything like that. When you come into this camp and everyone camps together, the main goal is to get over there and bring the Ashes back home.”

Dearden said he was looking forward to learning from Panthers playmaker Cleary.

“He’s been one of the greatest players and achieved so much in the game,” Dearden said. “I watch a lot of his footy and what he does on the field. I’m excited to be able to learn as much as I can off him while I’m here.”

Canberra five-eighth Ethan Strange has been identified as a star of the future, and is looking forward to the experience even if he doesn’t debut on tour.

“No, not really,” Strange said when asked if he felt he believed he was a Kangaroo. “I don’t have a lot of expectations with the four people who are in my position being the best in the world.

“I’ll fit in wherever I need to … I’m really looking forward to learning and being a sponge off them boys.”