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‘When I spotted them’: Walsh explains emotional anthem moment

The toast he ate for dinner ended up all over Allianz Stadium on Thursday night, but Reece Walsh deserves the biggest breakfast Sydney has to offer after he starred for Australia in their thrilling World Cup win over New Zealand.

Published: Friday, 16 October 2026 at 5:38 AM
‘When I spotted them’: Walsh explains emotional anthem moment
Key Things to Know
  • Reece Walsh explained he became emotional during the national anthem after spotting his family in the stadium crowd.
  • Walsh starred for Australia by scoring an 80-meter try in their World Cup victory against New Zealand.
  • Mid-game vomiting prevented Walsh from taking a crucial conversion kick after scoring his long-range try.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Australia fullback Reece Walsh revealed the deep emotion behind tearing up during the national anthem before Thursday night's World Cup clash against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium. Walsh explained that spotting his parents and daughter in the crowd, after reading a pre-game letter from his family, brought tears to his eyes because it was the first time they watched him wear the Australian jersey.

Walsh starred in the victory, scoring an 80-meter try despite dealing with severe mid-game nausea and vomiting that prevented him from attempting a conversion. Walsh praised teammate James Tedesco for his support during the week and confirmed he expects to be rested for Australia's upcoming fixture against Fiji.

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