NZ Warriors teenage phenom Reece Walsh admitted he felt significantly lighter in the shoulders, after setting the record straight regarding his future with the NRL club.
Earlier this week, Walsh told FOX Sports that rumours he intended to join expansion club Redcliffe Dolphins had "spiralled out of control" and that he's "100 percent" committed to travelling to New Zealand next year to honour the remainder of his deal.
The 19-year-old took the initiative both for his own benefit and that of his teammates and coaching staff, squashing the long percolating suggestions he was eager to leave the club prematurely to remain closer to his family.
"To be honest, that's why I did go out and talk to a journo - just to get that off my back, and get it off my the boys' minds here at training too and the coaching staff," Walsh said.
"Heaps of people are talking and I feel like, it wasn't so much starting to stress them out, but a bit of a red flag was getting put up there.
"So if it's not coming from my mouth - don't believe it."
With that nagging weight lifted off his back, Walsh said he's now free to focus his undivided attention on improving his game, which he insisted hasn't met his own lofty standards in recent weeks.
It's a suggestion which may come as a surprise to Warriors fans. The Queenslander has been one of the more consistent performers on a frustratingly inconsistent team.
But Walsh is far from satisfied from what he's put on the park this season - a comment which should be music to the ears of the Warriors faithful - insisting he needs to be more aggressive with his attack, which he said all starts with better on-field communication.
"Just my involvements - I haven't made as much of an impact as I can," he said.
"I feel like I've just got to keep putting myself in good positions and I've just got to keep talking to my halves - I probably havent been speaking to them as much lately.
"It's got to come back on myself demanding the ball and wanting the ball in those opportunities (to attack)."
Surprisingly, Walsh is yet to register a try for the Warriors so far this season, which he quickly dismissed as a non-factor in his self-professed sub-par form.
"That stuff will come if I keep putting myself in good positions and get the footy more.
"We've still got a while to go in the season and if I can start putting myself in good situations and demand the ball and get the ball I feel like it will be better for the team."
Perhaps the most notable improvement to Walsh's game this season has been his defence, which has evolved to the point where it's now one of his strengths.
Coach Nathan Brown spoke about his fullback's progression into an "all-round footballer", and Walsh's determination to shore up that aspect has paid clear dividends.
"That's probably been my goal the first nine rounds of the comp - trying to get my defence right," Walsh admitted.
"Being an all round player, not just attack. I feel like my defence has improved a lot but I've still got a lot more to learn.
"But I've been pretty pleased with it of late. I just want to start getting my attack back on the roll."
Aiding him in that regard has been the return of club stalwart Shaun Johnson, who has adequately filled the role of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as Walsh's mentor, although he's been taking full advantage of all resources on offer - no matter the position.
"We've got one of the best halfbacks in the game at our club now," he noted.
"If I can learn as much off Shauny and not just him - some of the heads like Wayde [Egan] and Chanel [Harris-Tavita].
"I can always take a leaf out of their book and even lean on some of the more experienced front rowers like Addin [Fonua-Blake] and [Matt] Lodge - they're smart footballers so see stuff as well.
"I just try and take a page out of everyone's book and put it into my game."
After proving they could win ugly in their golden point win over Canberra Raiders last weekend, Walsh said there's been a newfound buzz at training this week which they aim to put into practice against dangerous Cronulla Sharks on Sunday, who boast one of the NRL's most potent offensive revelations in centre Siosifa Talakai.
"Last week was a bit of a weird one… it wasn't our strongest performance but we got the job done in the end.
"This week's been solely focused on ourselves and getting much better as a team and starting to flow more as a team - put out on the field what we out in at training, that's the big goal for us this week.
"I still don't think we've put in a solid 80 min performance this year, so if we can keep working towards that goal we'll just keep getting better.
"It's going to be a massive challenge for us this week. We're coming up against a back five that are one of the best in the comp for tackle breaks.
"It's going to be a good gauge to see where they're at."
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