Why Rugby Australia, the Bulldogs and Dolphins all wanted Manly debutant

1 week ago 4

Rugby Australia was quick to celebrate the signing of one Joey, but how long before they’re kicking themselves for letting another slip through the cracks?

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has more than delivered on the hefty price tag RA paid to lure him from the Sydney Roosters, but the governing body was disappointed when Joey Walsh joined the Sea Eagles, his childhood club, having worked overtime to keep him in the 15-man code.

The Dolphins and Canterbury also met with Walsh and his family, but it was always going to be tough to pry him away from the Northern Beaches and the chance to play alongside one of his idols, Daly Cherry-Evans.

That dream will become a reality on Friday when Walsh and Cherry-Evans – the future and the past for the Sea Eagles – combine for 10 minutes or so late in the game against the Warriors.

Walsh attended St Augustine’s College, across the road from Manly’s Brookvale home, and was co-captain and fullback of the Australian under-18s rugby team in 2023. He spent an entire pre-season with the Waratahs while still at school.

His eldest brother, Jack, plays professionally in Wales with the Ospreys – and was once pursued by the Cronulla Sharks – Ben, or BJ, was a competitive surfer, while a third brother, Jed, represented England’s under-20s side in rugby during a playing stint overseas.

Daly Cherry-Evans and Joey Walsh at training.

Joey’s parents, Pete and Taff, became emotional while attending Thursday’s jersey presentation, and were quick to praise Cherry-Evans for the way he had looked after their son.

Cherry-Evans will farewell the Manly faithful after 15 years and 352 NRL games on Friday, but can add fast-tracking the development of Walsh, one of his Curl Curl neighbours, to the legacy he leaves behind.

To help with Walsh’s transition, Manly even gave him the locker between Cherry-Evans and No.6 Luke Brooks.

“Joey always loved both codes, but he really wanted to give league a good crack,” Pete Walsh said.

“We met with the Dolphins – Kristian Woolf and [former recruitment officer] Peter O’Sullivan – Joey met with [coach] Cameron Ciraldo at the Bulldogs, while we met with ‘Gus’ [Canterbury general manager Phil Gould]. They were all great people, but in the end Joey could not give up playing in his own backyard and with his mates at Manly.

“We’ve spent so many afternoons sitting on the hill at Brookie watching Manly, and it’s always amazing when the crowd is going off. Now Joey has the opportunity to run out with the boys.

“The club were super impressive, they gave us a really good feel, and were always honest about what the progression might look like. It’s happened a lot faster than we thought.”

Joey Walsh (second from left) with older brothers Jed, Jack and Ben.

Jamal Fogarty is expected to be Manly’s new halfback, but five-eighth Brooks has enough versatility to one day transition into a dummy half. There are equally high hopes for young playmaker Onitoni Large.

Pete said of Cherry-Evans’ influence: “Daly has been so great for Joey. He is an extraordinary guy. To play as many games as he has – we even said during the jersey presentation how much we had enjoyed watching DCE play the game.

Joey Walsh playing with the NSW Waratahs under-19s.

“He’s even gone out on his days off to help Joey and give him advice. His two idols growing up were Daly and Shaun Johnson.

“To play with one of his idols in DCE on Friday it really is amazing. We’ve got a big crew coming down.”

Walsh, who spent time with the Sydney Roosters’ Harold Matthews team, is training to become a barber and has been responsible for a lot of the Sea Eagles’ haircuts.

Coach Anthony Seibold and assistant Pete Gentle can take credit for making sure Walsh never escaped the beaches.

Seibold said earlier this week about Walsh: “I feel like Joey has been our best player in second grade. He’s only 19, and I wanted to give him an opportunity to play the back end of the game in the halves with ‘Chez’ [Cherry-Evans]. It’s a good reward for him, and gets him keen for pre-season.”

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