- Broncos were stunned by the Gold Coast Titans
- That couldn’t wipe the smile off Reece Walsh’s face
- The State of Origin star shared a special moment with fans
Brisbane Broncos star Reece Walsh may have tasted defeat against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday, but he still won many hearts thanks to his touching interaction with his daughter.
While the Broncos lost the match, they were first on the scoreboard when Payne Haas crashed in the seventh minute.
After the successful conversion kick, the camera panned to the crowd and to Walsh’s young daughter Leila, who was at Suncorp Stadium to support her father.
It was a magical moment for the Brisbane fullback, who couldn’t help but beam with pride as he watched his girl show her support.
Leila stood front and center in her own native crew jersey as she watched her famous dad play for the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday
The broadcast was shown on the big screen in the stadium and proud father Walsh beamed at the sight of his daughter in the stands
“There’s little Leila, daughter of Reece Walsh, loving everything here today,” said commentator Warren Smith.
‘What an opportunity. No doubt I’ll be wearing Dad’s sweater too. And Reece just saw her on the big screen and he’s beaming.
‘How proud he is.’
Former Broncos star and fellow commentator Corey Parker added: “It’s a great moment for the young man.”
‘He speaks very openly about his daughter, the influence she has had, which invariably brought him back to Brisbane.’
“He doesn’t care about the world when it comes to his little girl. That’s how it should be! What a great father.
‘It was so sweet. Leila on camera: The crowd got really loud and Walshy’s face when he saw her. Just precious.’
Walsh has a very close bond with his daughter, who was the main reason he returned to Brisbane early after signing a three-year contract with the New Zealand Warriors.
Walsh regularly posts photos of his daughter on social media and she is often on site to support him
Walsh recently bought a $1.8 million Gold Coast home with plenty of room for his family
‘She has her father’s cheeky grin and bright eyes. Wonderful to see that she gets to look at Dad and his smile when he sees her smiling at him on the big screen! Healthy family football. Good to see a young man who appreciates his little daughter.’
Walsh 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 that he was selected to make his Origin debut.
Walsh also welcomed Leila in March 2021, when he was just 18, which was a deciding factor in his return to the Brisbane Broncos.
He was granted early release from his New Zealand contract and returned to Queensland in 2023 to be closer to his daughter.
Walsh divorced his longtime girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Freda Puru, last year, but the couple continues to co-parent their daughter.
The Broncos star also recently bought a sprawling $1.8 million Gold Coast estate, with eight bedrooms and a striking entertainment zone.