Reece Walsh is free to play in Brisbane’s preliminary final after avoiding a ban for a headbutt in Brisbane’s epic win over Canberra.
Walsh orchestrated the Broncos’ stunning comeback from 28-12 down to a 29-28 win in extra time of the qualifying final.
Walsh can accept a fine but stand-in captain Pat Carrigan faces a one- to two-match ban for a high shot
Superstar Broncos fullback Reece Walsh will not be suspended for hitting Hudson Young during Brisbane’s thrilling victory on Sunday, allowing him to play in the NRL preliminary final. During the thrilling match that Brisbane ultimately won 29-28 in golden point, Walsh was charged with grade-one hitting for the incident that occurred in the 53rd minute. Walsh may play in the grand final qualifier against Canterbury or Penrith and accept a $3,000 fine with an early guilty plea, but if he attempts to contest the case in court, he will be suspended for two games. When he marched up the tunnel to the sin bin, the 23-year-old flipped the bird at Canberra supporters, earning him a $1,800 contrary conduct punishment.
Not so fortunate, the stand-in captain at Carrigan was suspended for one to two games for a high shot on Morgan Smithies. Both players were sent to the sin-bin as the Raiders jumped out to a 28โ12 lead. With 18 minutes remaining in regulation, Walsh came back and led a spectacular comeback that ended with Ben Hunt’s game-winning field goal in the 94th minute.
The mercurial Broncos fullback scored one try, set up another and kicked a booming 40/20 to give Brisbane the ball for a third before hitting the crossbar with a long-range field goal attempt that would have tied the game, instead earning a penalty goal to send it to extra time when Zac Hosking ran through his kicking leg on his second attempt as the siren sounded.
For all the good he did, his afternoon will also be remembered for pushing his head into Young’s face as the pair became entangled when the Raiders enforcer celebrated in his face after a Broncos knock-on.
Both players were sin-binned over the incident, with referee Ashley Klein dismissing Young for getting in Walsh’s face, “which makes him react like that”.
Walsh told Fox Sports after the game that his phenomenal final few minutes were repayment to his teammates after the Raiders scored twice during his period in the bin.
“I had to come out with something because getting sent for 10 in a bloody final, I was disappointed in myself,” he said, joking that Young called him a “weak-gutted dog” in reference to Stuart’s dig at Penrith’s Jaeman Salmon in 2022.
Young and Raiders captain Joe Tapine protested on the field, and in the post-match press conference Stuart was adamant Walsh should have been sent off.
“They’ve set a precedent now. You’re allowed to headbutt,” Stuart said.
“If Joe or Hudson headbutted Reece Walsh what do you think would have happened?”
“They got it 100 per cent wrong,” he added, while saying he did not want to steal focus from an incredibly entertaining contest.
Broncos coach Maguire tried to downplay the clash immediately after the game.
I’d have to have a look at it. They were at each other a little bit,” he told reporters.
“It was probably more just conversation, we’ll have a look at it down the track.
“There is emotion out there. They were both sent for a reason, so you move on.”
The incident is the second time Walsh has been accused of a headbutt in his career, with the Queenslander copping a grade-two striking charge for one in State of Origin in 2023.
Three minutes after Walsh’s effort, Carrigan joined him in the bin for a high tackle that left Smithies with a bloody lip, resulting in a grade-two careless high tackle charge.
Carrigan can accept a one-game ban with an early guilty plea, or risk being rubbed out for the preliminary and grand final if he fights the charge and loses.
As their teammates fell behind 28-12 while the game was 11 vs 12, Carrigan said he and Walsh chatted in the sin bin about launching the audacious comeback.
“The conversation was pretty clear, it was just let’s get out there and have a crack,” Carrigan said.
“He was just saying let’s go after this game, let’s get another shot โฆ He’s clear and he backs himself.”
The Broncos earned the week off before a preliminary final against the Bulldogs or Panthers after the 94-minute marathon match that included two periods of extra time before the golden point period ended with Hunt’s field goal.
The break will be much needed as gun prop Payne Haas played out the game with a heavily strapped left ankle.
Billy Walters, who has been playing five-eighth in the absence of Ezra Mam, has suffered damage to his ACL in the victory over the Raiders.
“Scans have confirmed Billy Walters suffered damage to his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in Sunday afternoonโs victory over the Raiders,” the Broncos said in a statement.
“Walters will work with the Clubโs medical team to assess the next steps in his recovery.โ
There are also real concerns over second-rower Brendan Piakura, with fears he suffered a depressed cheekbone in the first half of Sunday’s match.
The team is hopeful of having captain and halfback Adam Reynolds back from a hamstring strain for the preliminary final.
