Walsh swipes Cleary question with cheeky reply

The answer to stopping a Nathan Cleary masterclass is one the Broncos will hope to discover, but the threat of the playmaker is not bothering Reece Walsh.

In fact, Walsh flipped the narrative surrounding the preliminary final.

Asked how the Broncos will handle the "world-class player" that is Cleary, Walsh cheekily replied with a smirk on his face: "How does he deal with us?".

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Penrith are no strangers to competing in big games, especially with Cleary by their side, having featured in the last five grand finals and won four of those in a row.

In 2023 the Broncos led by 16 points until Cleary orchestrated a stunning comeback to break their hearts on the big day.

The influence of Cleary has consistently left league greats in awe.

A 24-point defeat for the Broncos was the result when the two teams last faced off in May, with Penrith's recent success showcasing why they're still premiership contenders.

In that round nine clash, Cleary had one try assist, two line breaks, converted all shots at goal and crossed for a try of his own.

"It's exciting and he is a world-class player and if you give him opportunities, he's gonna take it," Walsh continued, speaking of the 27-year-old halfback's impact.

"It's the same as us - if they give us opportunities, we're gonna take it.

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"(Penrith) are world-class. It's obviously shown why they've won it for the past four years. They play that long game and that's something that we're trying to get to.

"It's an awesome challenge for us this weekend, it's really exciting and I love playing against the best teams."

While eyes will be on Cleary's influence over the Panthers, others will be looking to the impact Walsh can create to assist the Broncos on Sunday.

Walsh has been impressive in recent weeks, with his return from the sin bin in week one against the Raiders becoming a key moment that put the Broncos back in the contest.

The 23-year-old will be hoping to have the same impact in the preliminary final as two of his star teammates - Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam - return from hamstring injuries.

But Walsh believes his return to top form was inspired by his own stint on the sidelines.

"I think it came down to me," Walsh said.

"I was probably more the one who wasn't unlocking myself.

"I probably wasn't myself and was doing some uncharacteristic things when we were a full team.

"I got some good time to reflect when I had that injury and my mindset changed around some things. It was just about letting my brain switch off, to be honest.

"There's times where footy is important and that's your priority and there's times where other things are your priority.

"Everyone has a role in the team and my role is to do my job. I wouldn't say I'm doing anything crazy, I'm just trying to do my job and that's what they need me to do."

The Broncos face the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.