How Ed Sheeran and AC/DC have played in front of more Sydney fans than Reece Walsh

Let this sink in for a bit. English music star Ed Sheeran has played in front of Sydneysiders more often than Brisbane Broncos’ main man Reece Walsh over the past 18 months.

Sheeran performed three times at Accor Stadium in February, and even ageing rockers AC/DC delighted fans twice at the venue over the summer. That’s the same number of appearances Walsh has made in the Harbour City since the start of the 2025 season.

The last time he played on Sydney soil before that was in the first Origin of 2024, when Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i was sent off after knocking him out after seven minutes.

Come Saturday night, when Walsh returns from a fractured cheekbone and a foot injury for the Broncos against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium, it will be his third game in Sydney since the start of last year.

Walsh featured in the club’s round-one thumping of the Roosters last year, then did not play in Sydney until the grand final against Melbourne.

A knee injury last year meant he did not feature in games against Souths and Manly at Accor Stadium and 4 Pines Park, respectively, while he missed a come-from-behind win over the Bulldogs because of Origin duty.

The Broncos have played one game in Sydney, at Campbelltown, this season, which Walsh missed due to injury.

Despite his limited game time, Walsh still has a huge following south of the Queensland border. Young fans lined up for more than an hour to get a photo of him before he boarded the team bus one night at Campbelltown in 2024, while that same year, schoolgirls ran across a busy street in Parramatta to get a selfie when they spotted the fullback having coffee.

Stadium officials are banking on a crowd of close to 25,000 against the Roosters on Saturday night, which they say has been given a nudge by Walsh’s return.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire was surprised by the lack of games Walsh had played in Sydney since he took charge of the premiers.

A plate inserted into his face means Walsh is less prone to suffering any fresh fractures, while the foot injury he suffered at home a couple of weeks ago, which required several stitches on the bottom of his foot, had fully recovered.

“That’s a pretty amazing stat about Sydney games – everyone appreciates a quality footballer, and ‘Reecy’ is certainly one of them,” Maguire told this masthead.

“He’s got so much more to do in the game, and you have to remember he’s only 23. He’s now coming into the best years of his footy career.

“He’s a really humble human. He has a beautiful daughter, he’s a family man – he spends a lot of time with his family.

“He [now] understands his game better than he has; he knows when to inject himself. Everyone sees the flashy plays and incredible moments Reece does, but he wants to be one of those top-end players who is consistent week in, week out.”

While the debate among NSW fans has focused on whether Roosters skipper James Tedesco or Penrith’s Dylan Edwards will be the No. 1, Walsh’s return, along with that of fellow Maroon Kalyn Ponga (hamstring) on Sunday, has coach Billy Slater rubbing his hands together. Queensland incumbent Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has also been in strong form for the Dolphins.

“Reece has got the ability to get people out of their seats and get excited about the game,” Slater said of Walsh.

“It’s always exciting watching him because he can do things that are hard to do on the footy field, but they happen to be the easy things for him.

“I’ve got no doubts he will be going out there not thinking about entertaining the crowd, but performing the best he can for his footy team.

“The standard he got to at the end of last year was incredible, and that’s hard to replicate all the time.

“Look at last year’s finals series, and if he doesn’t have the defensive mindset he did in the grand final, the Broncos probably don’t have that trophy sitting in their cabinet.

“But he’s been working hard on areas of his game that are probably not highlighted all the time.

“I’ve known Reece since he debuted in the NRL. I’ve been a part of his inner sanctum ever since then. I know how hard he works. He’s got a great inner drive to improve himself and compete.

“There’s nobody more excited than me to watch Reece and Kalyn Ponga return this weekend.”

Ponga is one of several Knights to return for the sold-out clash at home to an in-form South Sydney. The re-signed skipper was excellent in round one, then hobbled off midway through the first half in round two against Manly.

Slater was quick to point out a passage of play Ponga was involved in against the Sea Eagles that proved to him he was in excellent touch.

“He scored a try, but if you go back to the moment before that, he was in the corner and cops a heavy whack, then he gets to his feet, and he’s the guy putting on the play on the other side of the field,” Slater said.

“Kalyn looks like he’s in a really good space, he’s re-signed, he’s settled, and in that sweet spot of his career. He knows who he is and what he wants out of his career.”