"Good luck stopping him": Maroons great's Walsh warning to NSW

Legendary NRL fullback Matty Bowen has issued a stern warning for the New South Wales Blues if they go out trying to target Queensland Maroons star Reece Walsh in Game II at the MCG.

Walsh’s third game in the Origin arena was cut short in the series opener when he left the game with concussion after just seven minutes and the Broncos young gun hasn’t played a game since the knock.

While most rugby league experts expect the Blues to put the pressure on the 21-year-old, Bowen believed it could be at their own expense as he gave some advice to Walsh ahead of a game, which could clinch the series for the Maroons.

“I just think (my advice is) Reece being Reece, don’t move back, don’t sort of think I got this pressure on me now and they’re going to be targeting me,” he said on Mornings SENQ.

“No, I’m going to take my foot forward , yeah I am a target and good luck if they try to stop me.”

The North Queensland Cowboys great, who played 10 Origins for Queensland including a game-winning try off an intercept in 2005, recalled the confidence and advice one of his former NRL coaches gave him about being targeted by the opposition.

“(I got) some great advice from Tim Sheens, Tim Sheens always said you got to back yourself and get the ball in your hands,” he said.

“I know they’re talking about, watch (Reece’s) left foot and right foot step, but are they going to defend it? Make them defend it.

“Reece has to back himself, do what he does on a weekly basis with the Broncos and in that Maroons jersey.

“Good luck stopping him.”

Walsh made his debut in the 2023 series opener in Adelaide before being sent off with Jarome Luai in Game II at Suncorp Stadium last year.