Rugby league great Joe Walsh has died at age 79 after a long battle with cancer. His passing has brought renewed attention to his role in Balmain’s famous 1969 premiership win, a result still remembered as one of the sport’s most surprising upsets.

Walsh grew up in the Riverina and arrived in Sydney with little fanfare. His blonde hair, strong work ethic, and tough defence soon made him a valued second rower. He played a key part in Balmain’s shock victory over South Sydney, a team widely viewed as unbeatable at the time. Souths were filled with internationals and had dominated the competition for years. Balmain, by contrast, relied on determination and a simple plan that they executed with discipline.

The match became a classic underdog story. Walsh embodied that spirit, meeting every challenge with hard, clean tackling and steady commitment. Former teammate Paul Cross later recalled how Walsh stopped wave after wave of South Sydney attack and called him one of the era’s best defenders.

Walsh played with Balmain from 1969 to 1973, appearing in 53 first-grade games. A knee injury sidelined him for the 1971 season, but he returned and completed his top-level career two years later. He then continued in country football, representing Temora and Quandialla, and later guided the Cowra Magpies to a premiership as captain-coach in 1978.

In his later years, Walsh ran the Riverina Hotel in Wagga Wagga before selling it in 2020. Tributes have described him as a gentleman, a quiet leader, and a respected figure in Australian rugby league.