Brisbane Broncos superstar Reece Walsh has once again set social media alight, this time with a mural that has rugby league fans questioning whether artificial intelligence is behind his newly chiselled physique.
The Viral Mural That Divided Fans
The 23-year-old fullback, renowned for his online humour, shared an Instagram story thanking artist Calum Hotham for a mural painting. However, it was the depiction of Walsh with a remarkably defined six-pack that captured everyone's attention, overshadowing the artwork itself.
Online reactions were swift and divided. One fan joked, "Reece Walsh really let himself go over the summer break," while another admitted, "I'm sorry, there is a painting in this picture? All I see is that amazing six-pack." A third commenter was more sceptical, stating bluntly, "AI generated. Reece doesn't have abs."
Walsh, likely in typical tongue-in-cheek fashion, responded to the chatter by posting: "Seems to be a lot of haters in the dms (direct messages)." His use of a laughing emoji on the original post further fuelled speculation that this was another one of his famous pranks.
Evidence Points to a Classic Walsh Prank
Strong evidence suggests the image may be digitally altered. Footage from a visit to the Meraki Tattoo Parlour at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast on December 15 shows a noticeably slimmer Walsh getting inked shortly after Brisbane's premiership victory.
This timeline would mean the athlete would have had to undergo a dramatic physical transformation in just a few weeks over the Christmas and New Year period to achieve the physique shown in the mural. Many supporters on the Cast Patrol Instagram footy page were adamant the picture was AI-generated.
A History of Social Media Antics
Footy fans are well-acquainted with Walsh's reputation as a serial prankster on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. In September, he bizarrely filmed himself drinking water from a toilet, later telling followers it aided his post-match recovery. The Broncos were forced to issue a statement urging fans not to copy him after the video went viral.
Walsh leaned into the joke throughout the NRL finals, celebrating a try with a toilet water gesture and ending his Clive Churchill Medal acceptance speech after the Grand Final win over Melbourne by yelling "plumber out!"
The mural controversy comes after a stellar year for Walsh, who was a crucial figure in Brisbane's first premiership win since 2006 and a standout for the Kangaroos in their Ashes series clean-sweep in the United Kingdom. Whether his latest post is a gym triumph or a digital gag, Walsh has once again proven his mastery of social media engagement.
