Warriors interim head coach Stacey Jones hopes being dropped has helped Reece Walsh learn a thing or two.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Granted an early release to join the Brisbane Broncos from next season, the star young fullback was benched for last weekend's loss to the Raiders in Canberra.
Walsh had been reinstated in the starting line-up for Friday night's match against the Melbourne Storm in Auckland.
Jones said the 20-year-old had responded "really well" to being dropped and was a wonderful player, but had to learn sometimes simple was better.
"Hopefully a stint on the bench might help him.
"He doesn't want to go back there and I don't want to put him back there. He's a gifted player and sometimes you learn better when you're not in the team."
Walsh's demotion came as it was revealed he was being pursued by the Storm, who have lost their first-choice fullback to injury and asked the Warriors to let him go even earlier than planned.
Warriors CEO Cameron George told Stuff the club had "no interest" in Melbourne's proposition.
Asked for his thoughts on the idea of Walsh leaving to the Storm for the rest of this season, Jones said he had none, only confirming he was not spoken to about the situation.
Meanwhile, as the story surrounding the Manly inclusivity jersey continued to unfold, Jones said rugby league was a game for everyone but he hadn't thought about the possibility of the Warriors wearing one.
It came after a lengthy and impassioned response from Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who said the Sea Eagles saga was a snapshot highlighting a wider rugby league issue, and insisted his team would have worn a similar jersey with no problem.