Speculation about Joey Walsh's role in the NRL has been rife this season, but Manly's best halves prospect in a generation is more than happy to drop back to reserve grade next week if Kieran Foran requires.
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Former rugby union prodigy Walsh made a strong first NRL start as the Sea Eagles fell 18-16 to premiership favourites Penrith on Sunday.
After handing him his debut from the bench last season, ex-Manly coach Anthony Seibold had been keen for the 19-year-old to develop in NSW Cup before facing the rigours of 80-minute NRL.
Interim coach Foran took the same approach during his first month in charge.
But Jamal Fogarty's minor groin injury paved the way for Walsh to line up next to Luke Brooks in the halves in round nine.
He impressed with a flat no-look pass to Haumole Olaka'uatu ahead of Manly's second try, with Foran also praising his defensive grit after full-time.
"Obviously there were a couple of nerves," said halfback Walsh, who went head-to-head with the game's best No.7 in Nathan Cleary.
"(But) I was happy. There were a few opportunities that if I had back, hopefully I would've taken them, but 'Brooksy' helped me out heaps."
Walsh has been a household name in the NRL for some time, largely in the context of Manly's plans for the post-Daly Cherry-Evans era.
Current first-choice halves combination Brooks and Fogarty are in their 30s, and Walsh and Onitoni Large are seen as the club's long-term halves prospects.
With Cherry-Evans' departure forcing Manly's first upheaval at halfback in 15 years, intrigue had mounted as to how much first grade Walsh would play in 2026.
But Walsh himself has never been in a rush for minutes, unfazed by speculation about his burgeoning role in first grade.
"It's been sweet, I don't hear too much about it away from footy and the club's got some really good resources that look out for me," he said.
"I'm in no rush to be out there. It's good getting reps in Cup. That definitely helped me out there today. There was definitely no rush."
Fogarty may be fit for next week's intriguing clash with Brisbane, in which case Walsh will gladly head back to NSW Cup, or the newly-expanded six-man bench.
"It's difficult with this new rule, you never know, you've got to do what's best for the team. But boys have been going up and down (between NSW Cup and the bench) all year," Walsh said.
"This year, for me, I just want to get as much game-time as I can. I'm obviously still getting used to the code, so whatever is best for the team."
To take his mind off footy, Walsh is a keen golfer and works as a barber one afternoon a week.
Walsh's hairdressing colleagues made it out to CommBank Stadium for his second NRL game.
"They were stoked for me. It was good to see them, they all came down. I had lots of friends and family here so it was pretty special," he said.
Australian Associated Press
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