Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam have avoided suspension after the NRL grand final, after Melbourne Storm legend Billy Slater questioned why there was only one player sin-binned on Sunday night. But Trent Loiero wasn’t as lucky as Walsh and Mam, with the Melbourne Storm forward hit with a two-game ban on Monday morning that will see him miss the start of the 2026 season.
The Queensland Origin forward was given 10 in the bin in the dying stages of Sunday night’s grand final – won 26-22 by the Broncos. The Storm star raced out of the line and made high contact with Brandan Piakura, giving the officials little choice but to send him to the bin. But the NRL world exploded with anger that Walsh and Mam got away with similar actions.
Billy Slater and many others questioned why Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam weren’t sin-binned as well. Image: Getty/AAP
Walsh hit Xavier Coates in the head with a shoulder charge in the first half, but was only placed on report. It appeared to be forceful, high contact – which has been the indictor for the past few seasons for a sin-bin offence.
In the second half, Mam hit Stefano Utoikamanu with a swinging arm and shoulder to the back of the head, but once again he escaped being sin-binned. And moments later, Piakura hit Ryan Papenhuyzen with a shocking late tackle when the Storm fullback wasn’t looking.
Trent Loiero was the only player sin-binned, despite Reece Walsh hitting Xavier Coates in the head with a shoulder charge. Image: Channel 9
Billy Slater questions NRL grand final sin-bin farce
All three indiscretions from the Broncos have resulted in sin-bins at different times this year, but all three were allowed to stay on the field. Speaking in commentary for Channel 9 after Loiero was binned, Slater didn’t disagree with the decision.
But he questioned why Loiero was treated differently to the Broncos players. “There’s been about three sin-bins today if we’re going to be honest,” Slater said. “We had Reece Walsh in the first half and Brendan Piakura hitting Papenhuyzen late.”
At the time of the Walsh incident, Andrew Johns said: “Oh, that’s a real high shot from Reece Walsh. We’ve seen all year that this is a sin bin.” However Johns back-tracked when he realised Coates was falling.
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Trent Loiero banned as Reece Walsh escapes with fine
Walsh, Mam, Piakura, Loiero and Jahrome Hughes were all put on report for their respective actions, and faced a nervous wait to see what the match review committee decided on Monday morning. All would have been facing bans if their actions were deemed any more than a grade-one offence, but it was only Loiero hit with a suspension.
The Storm forward copped a grade-two high-tackle charge, resulting in a two-game ban. Walsh ($3000), Piakura ($1800) and Hughes ($1000) all escaped with fines for grade-one offences, while Mam wasn’t charged at all.
Walsh was picked in Kevin Walters’ Kangaroos squad on Monday, and is reportedly set to start in the No.1 jersey over Dylan Edwards in the first Test. Any ban would have ruined those plans and delayed his ascension to the Kangaroos.
Some also questioned whether Reece Walsh took out Ryan Papenhuyzen in the air. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
NRL fans left fuming over Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam escape
On Sunday night, fans were furious that Walsh and Mam escaped being sin-binned. Rugby reporter Christy Doran wrote on social media: “Reece Walsh on report for a no arms shoulder directly to the head of Xavier Coates. Pathetic, soft and negligent officiating.”
One fan wrote: “Reece Walsh deadset shoulder to Coates face? On report only. Ezra Mam shoulder to the back of the head? On report only. Trent Loiero shoulder to face… 10 min sin bin.”
Another wrote: “Absolute joke both Mam and Walsh stay on.” While a third added: “This finals series Reece Walsh has head-butted someone and shoulder charged someone in the head and his combined punishment for both was 1 sin bin. Different rules for some.”