Chasing perfection: Walsh not content with super show

By IAN CHADBAND

Reece Walsh was dazzling, once again, on his international debut, but the new Kangaroo reckoned we’d seen nothing yet after his tour de force against England as Australia won the first Test against the old enemy 26-6.

Two glorious tries complete with swan dives, two vital try saves, 175 metres of mesmeric running, including a near length-of-the-pitch slalom, and one breathtaking, no-look reverse pass that led to an ultimately disallowed score.

And still Reece Walsh wasn’t satisfied.

While British rugby league began to appreciate what all the fuss was about with the Broncos ace, as Walsh turned his Kangaroos debut into an unforgettable showcase for his brilliance in the emphatic win over England, the poster boy himself seemed to be suggesting England had seen nothing yet.

Scolding himself for having let down his teammates during his one-man spectacular at Wembley – though no-one knew quite what he’d done wrong apart from one misdirected pass – Walsh wasn’t about to agree with the questioner who suggested he couldn’t have wished for a better debut.

Centre Gehamat Shibasaki was another Indigenous star who had a solid game.

“There’s some things that I could definitely get better at, for sure. Trying to organise the line, there was a few things in defence there, I sort of let the boys down in the game,” he said.

“I thought we were pretty scrappy out there … there’s a lot of room for improvement. But when we’re all chasing perfection, it doesn’t mean you’re going to get it, so we’ve just got to keep trying to get better each session.”

Reece Walsh got plenty of attention from the England defence but was till too hot to handle. (AP PHOTO)

If he keeps chasing perfection and never finds it, it’ll still be rare old fun to watch.

Indeed, as they were asked to reflect on the young musketeer who’d just run them ragged, England’s compliments towards their tormentor suggested that they too recognised here was a player with a gift to give the whole game.

His teammates needed no persuading. Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster may have long been two of the NRL’s finest, but both recognised a day to salute the new prince.

Walsh dives over to score his second try in the 26-6 victory over England.

“I’m very lucky to play with him. He broke my heart a couple of weeks ago,” said Storm grand finalist Munster. “He’s a special talent, and he’s only going to get better, and that’s great to see.”

Cleary too could only applaud as he reflected on how two weeks ago, the fullback had dominated the grand final and was now stamping himself as the new standard bearer for the international game.

“It’s outstanding – what a freak of a player, honestly,” the Penrith great smiled. “It’s an absolute pleasure to play alongside him.”