The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Adrian Proszenko
Reece Walsh of the Brisbane Broncos expresses admiration for James Tedesco’s performance and longevity in rugby league. During an interview with the Australian squad ahead of a camp, Walsh acknowledges that it will be difficult to compete against Tedesco, who recently won the Clive Churchill Medal. Despite his own high-grade injury sustained in August, Walsh remains confident about pushing for a position on the team, emphasizing his desire to learn from Tedesco and improve his game.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Brisbane Broncos superstar Reece Walsh conceded he would struggle to take the Kangaroos No.1 jersey from Roosters captain James Tedesco, stating he would be content to just be "half the player" that Tedesco is. The Australian squad gathered in Sydney on Thursday for selection discussions ahead of a significant match. Walsh holds the incumbent position after being named first-choice fullback during last year’s Ashes tour, but Tedesco made a strong case with an outstanding season culminating in his victory of the Clive Churchill Medal as the best player in Sunday's grand final win over the Newcastle Knights. "It’s hard to compete with Clive," Walsh quipped about the prestigious award. He expressed admiration for Tedesco's long-standing performance and acknowledged the difficulty of competing against him, while also showing confidence in his own abilities and eagerness to learn from a teammate he considers one of the game's greats.
Written for “Teddy Tedesco Retirement Tribute” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Brisbane superstar Reece Walsh concedes he will struggle to wrestle the Kangaroos No.1 jersey off James Tedesco, saying he would be content to be “half the player” the Roosters captain is.
asserted
captain → concede → Tedesco
Walsh is the incumbent after being the No.1 on last year’s Ashes tour, while Tedesco made a strong case during a stellar season, which culminated in him winning the Clive Churchill Medal for the best player in Sunday’s grand final win over the Knights.
asserted
him → make → Knights
“It’s hard to compete with Clive,” Walsh quipped as the Australian squad assembled in Sydney on Thursday.
asserted
squad → ’ → Thursday
“I’m obviously grateful to be in camp.
asserted
I → ’m → camp
I was watching Teddy when I was a kid.
asserted
I → watch → Teddy
To see what he’s done over the last few weeks, it’s going to be hard for myself to push for a position – but I’m confident in my ability.
asserted
I → see → ability
“I can’t wait to be a sponge and learn off him.
asserted
I → wait → him
He’s one of the greats to do it in our game, and I’m lucky enough to be able to rub shoulders as a teammate with him.”
asserted
I → ’ → him
Walsh has long admired Tedesco’s ability to perform at the highest level for such a lengthy period.
asserted
Walsh → admire → period
“I wish I could be half the player Teddy is, man,” Walsh said.
uncertain
Walsh → wish → ?
“Sitting there in school watching him win premierships and all that, it’s pretty amazing for his longevity and how consistent he’s been for so many years.
asserted
he → sit → years
Like I said, it was like last year being on the Ashes tour with Dyl [Dylan Edwards] – to be there and be able to rub shoulders and see the way he prepared.
asserted
he → say → way
“Now, for myself to be able to see the way Teddy prepares for a game, as a 24-year-old, I’m pretty stoked with that.
asserted
I → see → that
If there are some small things I can take away and put into my game, if I can be half the player that he’s been, I’ll be happy with that, brother.”
asserted
I → be → that
Walsh hasn’t played since suffering a high-grade syndesmosis injury in August that required surgery.
asserted
that → play → surgery
However, the Maroons ace feels he’s ready to return.
asserted
he → feel → ?
“At the Broncos, we’ve got such good staff there who manage injuries really well,” he said.
asserted
he → get → injuries
“One of the physios there, Shred, has been thrashing me for the last six weeks.
asserted
One → thrash → weeks
So it’s good to get back into the team environment and be around more players instead of just getting thrashed by myself ...
asserted
it → ’ → myself
“I’m going to do everything I can to push for this team, whether that’s starting or whether it’s not.
asserted
it → go → team
I’m just going to try my best.”
asserted
I → go → best
Walsh was the star of the 2025 season, helping steer the Broncos to a drought-breaking premiership.
asserted
Walsh → help → premiership
However, he concedes he has not consistently reproduced that form this year.
asserted
he → concede → form
“My form, it’s obviously disappointing after you win a comp and then see yourself back where you are,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → comp
“I feel like I tried hard this year.
asserted
I → feel → ?
I feel like I wasn’t happy with where we finished as a team, but there are always lessons in having those years.
asserted
we → feel → years
I feel like those are the ones that drive you to get better, keep learning and want to do better the next year.”
asserted
that → feel → you
Walsh refused to give up on his World Cup dream despite initially suffering what was thought to be a season-ending injury.
asserted
what → refuse → dream
“I was obviously just taking it week by week and trying to do everything I could to put myself in a position to be fit,” he said.
uncertain
he → take → position
“I’ve done that, so I’m happy to be here.
asserted
I → do → that
I can’t wait to get to work and prepare us for a good World Cup.”
asserted
I → wait → Cup
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