Corey Parker Shifts Focus From Reece Walsh to Veteran Broncos in Scathing Assessment After Eels Loss
Brisbane Broncos legend Corey Parker has come out in staunch defense of young fullback Reece Walsh following the team’s shock 22-20 loss to the struggling Parramatta Eels in Round 21. Rather than laying the blame squarely on Walsh’s shoulders, Parker turned his attention to Brisbane’s most experienced stars—captain Adam Reynolds and hooker Ben Hunt—urging them to take greater responsibility and provide the leadership the team desperately needed in high-pressure moments.
The Broncos entered the match as heavy favorites against a Parramatta side sitting in the lower half of the ladder. Yet despite expectations of a comfortable win at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane left with a bitter two-point defeat that may have major implications for their finals push. Much of the post-match criticism has landed on Walsh, whose errors—both physical and mental—proved costly.
Walsh’s blunders included a critical dropped bomb that directly led to a try for the Eels, and a heartbreaking final moment in which he was ruled offside on what would have been the Broncos’ match-winning try. Although the 21-year-old has been hailed as a game-breaker since bursting onto the scene, his high-risk playing style has also invited criticism during turbulent performances.
But Parker wasn’t interested in piling on the pressure. Speaking on SEN Radio on Monday morning, the former Broncos captain pushed back on the growing narrative that Walsh was solely responsible for the defeat. He instead called on Brisbane’s senior figures—specifically Reynolds and Hunt—to take accountability and guide their team more effectively through adversity.
> “There are moments in any sport when you need leadership,” Parker said. “There comes a time when your most experienced players and your leaders have to stand up and make some bold calls, and they have to stay on task.”
Parker noted that between Reynolds and Hunt, the Broncos have a staggering 651 games of NRL experience. With Reynolds, 35, acting as halfback and captain, and Hunt, with nearly 350 games under his belt, controlling the play from dummy-half, Parker argued that both players had the opportunity—and the duty—to steady the ship when Walsh’s play became erratic.
> “Adam Reynolds is the No.7, and he’s got over 300 games. He’s supposed to be the chief playmaker, the one who brings control. Then you’ve got Ben Hunt, with even more games under his belt. With that much experience between them, they need to guide the younger guys like Walsh through the big moments.”
The former Maroons forward went on to criticize the broader trend of Walsh being painted as either the hero or the scapegoat depending on the team’s result. “Too often, it’s either Reece Walsh had a brilliant game or Reece Walsh cost them the match,” Parker said. “But big-game experience and composure need to come from your leaders. That’s non-negotiable.”
He pointed to examples across the NRL where leadership has made all the difference. Citing Bulldogs center Stephen Crichton, Cowboys half Tom Dearden, and Storm rake Harry Grant, Parker explained how these players have stepped up to lead their respective teams—often in the absence of bigger-name stars.
Grant, in particular, was praised for steering Melbourne past the Roosters despite the absence of key playmakers like Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes, and Cameron Munster. “Those clubs have strong leaders who don’t let things fall apart when it gets tough,” Parker said.
He also highlighted the ladder-leading Canberra Raiders as a blueprint for success through calm leadership. “Look at Jamal Fogarty at the Raiders. He’s got some really young players around him—Xavier Savage, Kaeo Weekes—but he doesn’t deviate from what’s required. He kicks to the corners, keeps the team calm, and leads by example.”
With just a few rounds remaining before finals, Parker issued a direct challenge to the Broncos’ veterans. “I want to see Reynolds, Hunt, and the rest of the senior guys really assert themselves over the next four or five weeks. If they do that, the team will follow. You can have all the talent in the world, but without that direction, it can fall apart quickly.”
Parker also questioned whether Brisbane’s bye in Round 20 came at the wrong time, disrupting their momentum and setting the stage for their slip-up against the Eels. After winning six straight games, coach Michael Maguire gave his players a five-day rest period during the break. While the move was intended to refresh the squad ahead of the run to the finals, Parker believes it may have backfired.
The loss dropped Brisbane from fourth to sixth on the ladder, as the Panthers leapfrogged them with a win. Now sitting four points behind the fourth-placed Warriors, the Broncos face a tough road ahead if they hope to reclaim a top-four spot and the all-important double chance in finals.
The calls for leadership become even more urgent considering the intensity of the remaining schedule and the narrowing window for correction. For Parker, the time for excuses has passed. He’s adamant that Brisbane’s senior players—not just the flashy young stars—must be the ones to step up.
> “We’ve seen what this team can do when it’s clicking,” he said. “But when it starts to wobble, you need those experienced voices to steady the course. That’s what separates good teams from premiership-winning ones.”
For now, the spotlight remains on Reece Walsh, but Corey Parker has made it clear—if the Broncos are going to go deep into September, it’ll take far more than one young fullback finding his groove. It will require the cool heads and strong shoulders of the veterans around him.
