Las Vegas: Brisbane Broncos legend Sam Thaiday is tipping Reece Walsh – playing in a new role – will lead the Broncos to victory in Sunday's historic Vegas showdown with the Roosters.
With the playing surface at Allegiant Stadium five metres narrower than regulation NRL fields, Thaiday believes Walsh won't have the room to work his usual magic wideout.
But he sees the brilliant fullback breaking the Roosters up the middle as the game opens up in the second half.
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"It will be played at a frantic pace and the forwards will be going at it hard," Thaiday told Wide World of Sports.
"It will be a real battle of the big men and that can work in Reece's favour.
"As fatigue sets in, in the second half, it will just take one tired Roosters forward to be pin-pointed by Reece.
"He has the electric pace to get away from the tired legs and split the game wide open.
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"He is the most dangerous player on the field and it's just a question of being patient and waiting for his moment to strike."
Game day in Las Vegas is chilly with a gale-force wind blasting off the mountains that surround.
There are drops of rain but fortunately, none of this will matter at kickoff with Allegiant Stadium – which hosted the Super Bowl two weeks ago – completely enclosed and sheltered from the elements.
The streets are full of tourists in Broncos, Roosters, Rabbitohs and Roosters gear and there is a carnival atmosphere as kickoff approaches.
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