Dolphins CEO Terry Reader admits Reece Walsh is a “wonderful player”, but says the club won’t be commenting on the teen star’s future amid speculation he wants out of the Warriors.
Walsh last season was arguably the recruit of the year after departing the Brisbane Broncos mid-year to link up with the Warriors on a three-year deal.
The RLPA Rookie of the Year winner established himself as a future No.1 and was nearly rewarded with a Maroons debut before a hamstring injury got in his way.
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But Walsh may not see the end of his deal at the Warriors, with reports the 19-year-old wants to return to Queensland.
Reader remained tight-lipped when pressed on the speculation that Walsh is linked with a move to the NRL’s incoming 17th NRL franchise, who will take to the field in 2023.
“The key thing with Reece, he’s a wonderful player,” Reader told 4BC Radio.
“What you’ve also got to remember, he’s currently contracted so he’s not even someone for us to speak to at the moment.
“He’s a wonderful footballer, he took the competition by storm last year.
“But for us to be talking about it or commenting, he’s contracted to another club and that club is actually using our facilities.
“It’s not for us to comment or talk about.”
Reader’s comments come after Nine’s Ben Dobbin revealed tonight on Triple M radio that reports of Walsh wanting to return to Queensland are “very true”.
“I’m hearing they’re having conversations,” Dobbin said.
“I’m hearing that Dolphins and Reece Walsh’s management have had conversations and if there’s to be in any way a parting of the ways – because he’s got family here, he’s got a child here that he has to see, he doesn’t want to go over to New Zealand and not see his child.”
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