The Brisbane Broncos secured a 26-16 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium, but their star fullback, Reece Walsh, faces the possibility of suspension. Walsh was put on report after a cover defensive play led to a collision with Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi. The referee, Todd Smith, accused Walsh of executing a shoulder charge during Taulagi’s attempt to field a grubber kick from Scott Drinkwater just before the try line.
While the Bunker determined that Walsh did not attempt to wrap his arms during the incident, he was not penalised with a sin binning. Despite an apparent injury from the hit, Taulagi managed to score shortly after and completed the match. Rugby league legend Cameron Smith noted that similar fouls have led to players being sin-binned in the past. Conversely, Phil Gould argued that such defensive actions were historically viewed as legitimate try-saving manoeuvres that should not be punished.
Smith defended the decision, referencing trends observed in recent games, while Gould countered that the current regulations are excessively punitive. He asserted that the scrutiny on such plays had become unreasonably strict. Broncos legend Darren Lockyer downplayed the incident, pointing out that Walsh’s intention was to prevent a try.
Despite the Cowboys trailing 20-12 with eight minutes remaining, Broncos front-rower Payne Haas sealed the match with a decisive run through a gap created by opposition defenders Reuben Cotter and Jordan McLean. In the dying minutes, Cowboys centre Jaxon Purdue capitalised on a loose ball, dashing 89 metres to score a consolation try. Haas was outstanding, amassing 210 run metres, including 69 post-contact, alongside two line breaks and numerous tackle busts.
This match also marked the tenth anniversary of the Cowboys’ grand final win in 2015, a memorable game decided by Johnathan Thurston in golden point. In an unfortunate turn for the Cowboys, centre Viliami Vailea may face an extended period away from the game due to an eye injury sustained from a Ben Hunt finger. After initially passing a head injury assessment and playing into the first half, Vailea eventually had to leave the match, with coach Todd Payten later confirming he was sent to the hospital for treatment.