'A little kick': Why Warriors put young Walsh guns

The Warriors hope the bench stint will be a learning opportunity for livewire fullback Reece Walsh, with interim coach Stacey Jones believing Chanel Harris-Tavita can offer her team a better performance at the back this Saturday against the Raiders.

Walsh, who will leave the club at the end of the year for the Broncos, had been the Warriors’ No.1 first choice since Roger Tuivasa-Sheck left last year, but has now stepped down the pecking order due to his inconsistency. game, which is mostly defense related.

Harris-Tavita, traditionally used as a half or prostitute, starred at full-back during the homecoming game against the Wests Tigers in the round of 16 while Walsh was sidelined due to COVID, resulting in several attempted save tackles and contributing heavily in attack.

Garner makes breakthrough but Harris-Tavita saves the day

“We’re just looking for a more consistent performance at the back and I think Chanel a few weeks ago really showed that,” said Jones.

“Just a few small business areas, and for Reece it might just be a bit of learning for him.

“I thought I needed to make a change in that position and Chanel proved it a week before [that he is a good fullback] – it’s more about defense where he works hard and gets the numbers right – and Reece can learn from that.

He gave all of his Reece, but he had things in his game that he needed to learn.

Stacey Jones

Senior forward Tohu Harris said if Walsh’s performances on the training pitch were anything to go by, the message appears to have been well received by the 20-year-old.

“He came out and trained really well [Wednesday]so I hope it has the effect that I think aims for Stace, to give her a bit of a kick, to I guess tell her she’s still not quite the first grader she can be,” Harris said.

The future is bright for Reece

“I think he’s responded to what’s happened very, very well and he’s had a good training session on the pitch, so that seems like a good sign.

“Consistent NRL grinding is something he will learn with time and age.”

This is not the only change in the Warriors’ backbone ahead of round 19, with mid-season recruit Daejarn Asi earning the nod at five-eighth ahead of rookie Ronald Volkman.

Volkman, who debuted in the round of 15 and then withdrew the following week against the Wests Tigers, was not selected in last week’s NRL squad after contracting the virus, but instead played for the Dolphins’ feeder team in the Queensland Hostplus Cup.

While Harris said he continues to feel more comfortable after returning from the ruptured ACL that ended his 2021 season, revealing an injury was also the reason he moved to become a centre-forward instead of playing in the second line.

Friday’s 28-18 loss to Eels was arguably the best performance of the year for Harris, who has a record 44 tackles and a 170-metre run in 70 minutes.

Great captain Tohu beats tough

“Defending in the second row is a bit more lateral movement and that [about] kinda slowly trying to build it up because of the knee,” Harris said.

“I enjoy playing in the middle more, but if there comes a time when I need to play at the back for the team then I’m definitely willing to do it.

“I still haven’t thought [the knee] in the game, which is positive, and I’m happy not to have to worry about that.”

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