Michael Maguire has attempted to dismiss Reece Walsh’s headbutt on Hudson Young as two players having a “conversation”, while Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said the officials “got it 100 per cent wrong” by not sending him off.
The star fullback’s season hangs in the balance after he was sin-binned for pushing his forehead into Young’s face during a confrontation in the 53rd minute of Brisbane’s epic 29-28 qualifying final win in Canberra on Sunday.
Walsh produced a phenomenal stretch to get Brisbane back into the game, after they trailed 28-12 with 14 minutes to play.
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, but instead earned a penalty goal to send it to extra time.
But 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.
Reece Walsh and Hudson Young were sin-binned for this altercation. (Supplied: Fox Sports)
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 was 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.
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.
Walsh grabs the Sun to light up Brisbane’s season
“If Joe or Hudson headbutted Reece Walsh what do you think would have happened?
“They got it 100 per cent wrong.”
The match review committee will have its say this morning after 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.
A grade-two dangerous contact or striking charge would this time be enough to end Walsh’s season, unless he was able to successfully fight it at the NRL judiciary.
Walsh could also face sanction for sticking the finger up at the Canberra Stadium crowd as he left for the sin-bin.
Walsh flipped the bird at the Canberra crowd as he went to the sin-bin. (Supplied: Kayo Sports)
That would likely only be a fine, and would not carry any risk of him missing Brisbane’s preliminary final against either Canterbury or Penrith.
The other judiciary concern for the Broncos is stand-in captain Pat Carrigan, who was sin-binned shortly after Walsh for a high shot on Morgan Smithies.
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 … 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 Ben 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.
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.
AAP/ABC