Rugby League World Cup: Reece Walsh pulls out celebration backflip

Australian rugby league star Reece Walsh has left commentators stunned and fans on their feet after pulling off an outrageous try celebration.

In the first half of the Kangaroos’ cutthroat semifinal against Pacific heavyweights Samoa, Walsh split a gap just metres from the try line and flew over it to score in emphatic style.

It extended the red-hot favourites’ early lead, and Walsh, who was tipped as one of the keys to victory for the Australians pre-match, was feeling the moment.

So much so, he leapt into the air and pulled off a backflip in front of a Samoan-heavy stand of supporters.

It left the commentators stunned as they worried for his health, but Walsh’s teammates embraced the energy running through their half-back superstar in a rampant first half.

Just minutes later, Walsh was back in the thick of the action as a scuffle broke out after a dumping tackle.

Australian coach Kevin Walters revealed after the halftime break that he had chatted to Walsh about his celebration and declared it would not happen again.

The home side were well on their way to another final against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand at the halftime break, up 26-2.

The Samoans, who were hunting revenge for going down to the green and gold in the final four years ago, looked lost after their poor start and reacted by giving away costly penalties.