Brisbane star Reece Walsh has opened up about his private life, revealing what life is like for him as a young father on the eve of his side’s blockbuster showdown with Canberra.
Walsh, 23, burst onto the NRL scene as an 18-year-old in 2021 when he was signed by the New Zealand Warriors. His opening games for the Warriors were so impressive he was selected to make his Origin debut.
He also welcomed daughter Leila in March 2021 when he was just 18, which was a deciding factor in his return to the Brisbane Broncos.
Walsh split from his longtime girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Freda Puru, in 2023, but the couple continue to co-parent their daughter.
‘It is tough,’ Walsh told News Corp.
‘My daughter’s mother … she’s awesome. She’s always supporting.
‘Having my mum and dad around, and my siblings there, they’re always willing to help out.
‘It just shows the quality of people I have around me. That’s what it comes down to.
‘There’s a saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” and it’s so true. I’m just really grateful and thankful I’ve got awesome people around me to help me out (with raising his daughter).
‘The reason I am who I am is because of them, so I’ll never forget that.’
Walsh says life as a single dad gives him little time to be out partying with teammates.
‘I’m still only 23 years old,’ he said of being a young father.
‘There’s still times where my mates are out, doing what they’re doing.
‘I want to go and join them, but I’ve got a four-year-old daughter at home that I’ve got to cook dinner for and put in the bath.
‘I definitely wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for her (Leila).
‘I’m just really thankful to have an awesome support network. The club are awesome with supporting me, too, and the boys are all behind me.
‘They support me in everything that I’m doing.’
Walsh says that Leila inspires him to be a better person.
‘Not everything is about footy and a job. When I am in the facility I am the footy player, but when I step out and see my little one and my family, I am a dad.
‘I want to be someone who works hard, someone who brings success and someone who helps bring premierships to this great club at the Broncos.
‘But first of all I’ve got to be a good person off the field, a caring dad and a good role model.’
The Broncos head to Canberra’s GIO Stadium for their qualifying finals clash with the Raiders.
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