Whiz Walsh makes Maroons claim as Broncos belt Raiders

The Raiders lost half Jamal Fogarty to a biceps injury to compound their woes.

Walsh is in a battle with Newcastle's Kalyn Ponga for the Maroons fullback gig in the State of Origin series opener in Sydney on June 5.

He shone in the opening two games of last year's series before being suspended for the third.

Ponga, who was superb at No.1 for the Maroons in the 2022 series win, sat out last year's series due to a series of concussions to focus on the Knights, and went on to win the Dally M Medal.

Walsh made three line breaks and finished with a personal tally of 18 points, including five goals, against the Raiders.

The Broncos set up the win with five quality tries in the space of 19 minutes in the first half to lead 28-0 at the break. 

The Raiders had all the early possession and had a try to Hudson Young disallowed, but it was Walsh magic that lit up the match in the 13th minute. 

The dazzling fullback hit an Ezra Mam pass at electric speed from 45m out and left centre Matt Timoko clutching at air before stepping fullback Chevy Stewart to score.

A Mam bomb, followed by a slick catch and pass by prop Fletcher Baker, set up second-rower Jordan Riki for a try and it was 12-0 after 18 minutes. 

Half Jock Madden put up a spiral bomb, Stewart dropped it and Mam was on hand to toe ahead and score.

Hooker Billy Walters got in on the act with a slick grubber kick near the line and raced through to score, before Walsh sliced through from close to the line. 

A highlight of the first half was a monster front-on tackle by Brisbane hitman Kobe Hetherington on Stewart. It showcased perfectly the defensive clout the Broncos showed throughout in a display led by lock Pat Carrigan and prop Corey Jensen.

The Raiders showed grit and rallied in the second half with tries to Simi Sasagi and Xavier Savage.