Worth his wait in gold: Why Joey is happy to bide his time

Young Manly halfback Joey Walsh knows his stop-start NRL career is likely continue for the foreseeable future and he’s fine with that.

When the Sea Eagles were in their early 2026 season slump losing three straight at 4 Pines Park, calls for Walsh to be injected into the fray grew louder and louder. 

The teenager made his NRL debut playing 19 minutes off the bench in Round 27 last year.  

Even when Kieran Foran this year took over as head coach from Anthony Seibold, the push for Walsh remained in the background. 

Walsh, who turns 20 this month, didn’t flinch as he realised he has more to learn in rugby league after switching from rugby union, where he was the No.10 for the Australian Under 18s.

“It’s been sweet. I don’t hear too much about it... I’m in no rush to be out there,” Walsh said after a sterling 80-minute performance at No.7 in Manly’s 18-16 loss to Penrith.

“It’s good to get reps in NSW Cup so that definitely helped me out there today.  
“With Jammer (Jamal Fogarty) hurt this week it was really good to get the opportunity but there’s no pressure at all.” 

Fogarty is expected to be overcome a groin injury in time to face the Broncos at 4 Pines Park on Saturday night – relegating Walsh back to NSW Cup where he has scored four tries in six matches, or onto the extended NRL bench. 

“With a guy like Joey if we can see value with a bench spot moving forward – there’s a six-man bench there now which we could potentially use him on to give us great cover and some spark too,” Foran said. 

“There’s a few options to tinker with as we move on. He knows he’s still really early in his career. There’s parts he wants to continue to grow and get stronger at. 

“If he can play like that for us throughout the year he’s going to be a pivotal part to where we’re going and what we’re doing.” 

Walsh not only showed a solid left boot but his timing and talent for the no-look pass led to Haumole Olakau’atu accelerating through a hole and then putting Ethan Bullemor over for Manly’s second try. 

“When you have someone as big as Haumole on your outside you might as well give him some early ball,” Walsh said nonchalantly. 

“Being in combination throughout the week with him helps big-time. It was just good to get it out on the field.

“We practice all week building that combination. We have a few go-to moves and Haumole runs a perfect hole so just get the ball to him and let him do his work.” 

Walsh might have been modest about the part he played but Foran was more forthcoming. 

“He’s just got so many skills that he can keep growing,” he said.  

“That was a beautiful pass and at that time in the game, to execute the way he did. It just shows you the sort of ability the kid has got.” 

Walsh has other off-field talents. He’s not only a competent golfer but a trained barber. 

“I used to do that (cutting hair) an afternoon a week so it’s good to get away from footy," he said.

But what he doesn’t want to get away from is training once or twice a week in opposed sessions between the NSW Cup and NRL sides. 

“Challenging each other makes both teams better,” Walsh said. 

“Both Jamal and Brooksie (Luke Brooks) have been great and helped me so much. They are obviously very experienced halves so I’m getting as much as I can off them. 

“Getting as many reps as you can on the field whether it’s your kicking, game-organising... being the main halfback in the team has really helped being in Cup. 

“I just want to get as much game time as I can. I’m still getting used to the code.”