The Brisbane Broncos secured a 26-16 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, although they might have to contend with the potential suspension of their star fullback, Reece Walsh. Walsh was put on report by referee Todd Smith for a collision with Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi during a cover defence, where he allegedly executed a shoulder charge. This incident occurred as Taulagi attempted to gather a Scott Drinkwater grubber kick close to the try line.
Despite the Bunker ruling that Walsh failed to make a genuine attempt to wrap his arms around Taulagi during the hit, he avoided being sent to the sin bin. Taulagi seemed to be in pain following the impact, yet he managed to score a try shortly after and continued to play for the remainder of the match.
Commentary on the incident has been mixed. Storm legend Cameron Smith noted that players have often been sent to the sin bin for similar actions, while rugby league figure Phil Gould remarked that such tackles were historically seen as legitimate attempts to prevent tries rather than infractions deserving of sin-binning. Lockyer, a Broncos icon, supported Walsh’s actions, highlighting the rapid pace of the game and Walsh’s intentions to stop a potential score.
The game remained competitive, with the Cowboys trailing by just eight points with eight minutes left. However, Broncos prop Payne Haas crushed their hopes with a decisive try that solidified their lead. Haas delivered an outstanding performance, amassing 210 running metres, including 69 post-contact metres, along with two line breaks, a linebreak assist, and nine tackle busts. A late consolation try from North Queensland’s Jaxon Purdue, who chased down a loose ball for an 89-metre sprint to score, marked the final points of the match.
This match commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Cowboys’ famous grand final win over the Broncos, a memory still cherished by fans. As the Broncos look ahead, they will have to navigate the implications of Walsh’s on-field incident amidst their ongoing campaign.