Brisbane Broncos star Reece Walsh may have tasted defeat against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday, but he still won plenty of hearts thanks to his touching interaction with his daughter.
While the Broncos lost the match, they were first on the scoreboard as Payne Haas crashed over in the seventh minute.
Following the successful conversion kick, the camera panned onto the crowd and onto Walsh’s young daughter Leila, who was at Suncorp Stadium to support her dad.
It was a magic moment for the Brisbane fullback, who couldn’t help beaming with pride as he saw his girl showing her support.
Leila was front and centre in her own Indigenous round jersey as she watched her famous dad play for the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday
The broadcast was put on the big screen at the stadium and proud dad Walsh beamed at the sight of his daughter in the stands
‘There’s little Leila, daughter of Reece Walsh, loving things here today,’ commentator Warren Smith said.
‘What an occasion. Wearing Dad’s jersey no doubt, as well. And Reece has just seen her on the big screen and he’s beaming.
‘There’s little Leila, daughter of Reece Walsh, loving things here today,’ commentator Warren Smith said.
‘What an occasion. Wearing Dad’s jersey no doubt, as well. And Reece has just seen 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 nice moment for the young man.’
‘He speaks very openly about his daughter, the influence that she’s 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 dad.
‘It was so sweet. Leila on camera- the crowd got really loud and Walshy’s face when he saw her. Just precious.’
‘She has her daddy’s cheeky grin and bright eyes. Lovely to see she gets to go watch Daddy and his smile when he see’s her smiling at him on the big screen! Wholesome family football. Good to see a young man that values his baby girl.’
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 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 an early release from his New Zealand contract and returned to Queensland in 2023 to be closer to his daughter.
Walsh split from his longtime girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Freda Puru, last year, but the couple continue to co-parent their daughter.
The Broncos star also recently purchased a $1.8million sprawling Gold Coast estate with eight bedrooms and a standout entertaining zone.
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