{"id":143634,"date":"2025-09-14T23:23:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T23:23:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/143634\/"},"modified":"2025-09-14T23:23:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T23:23:08","slug":"reece-walsh-headbutt-pat-carrigan-high-shot-could-lead-to-nrl-bans-after-broncos-beat-raiders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/143634\/","title":{"rendered":"Reece Walsh headbutt, Pat Carrigan high shot could lead to NRL bans after Broncos beat Raiders"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Walsh produced a phenomenal stretch to get Brisbane back into the game, after they trailed 28-12 with 14 minutes to play.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Composite<\/p>\n

Reece Walsh and Hudson Young were sin-binned for this altercation. (Supplied: Fox Sports)<\/p>\n

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”.<\/p>\n

Walsh told Fox Sports after the game that his phenomenal final few minutes<\/a> was repayment to his teammates after the Raiders scored twice during his period in the bin.<\/p>\n

“I had to come out with something because getting sent for 10 in a bloody final, I was disappointed in myself,” he said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“They’ve set a precedent now. You’re allowed to headbutt,” Stuart said.<\/p>\n

Walsh grabs the Sun to light up Brisbane’s season<\/a><\/p>\n

Brisbane and Canberra went to the great beyond in their golden point finals match and it was Reece Walsh who led the Broncos to the promised land.<\/p>\n

“If Joe or Hudson headbutted Reece Walsh what do you think would have happened?<\/p>\n

“They got it 100 per cent wrong.”<\/p>\n

The match review committee will have its say this morning after Broncos coach Maguire tried to downplay the clash immediately after the game.<\/p>\n

“I’d have to have a look at it. They were at each other a little bit,” he told reporters.<\/p>\n

“It was probably more just conversation, we’ll have a look at it down the track.<\/p>\n

“There is emotion out there. They were both sent for a reason, so you move on.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Walsh could also face sanction for sticking the finger up at the Canberra Stadium crowd as he left for the sin-bin.<\/p>\n

\"Reece<\/p>\n

Walsh flipped the bird at the Canberra crowd as he went to the sin-bin. (Supplied: Kayo Sports)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“The conversation was pretty clear, it was just let’s get out there and have a crack,” Carrigan said.<\/p>\n

“He was just saying let’s go after this game, let’s get another shot \u2026 He’s clear and he backs himself.”<\/p>\n

ABC Sport Daily podcast<\/a><\/p>\n

ABC Sport Daily is your daily sports conversation. We dive into the biggest story of the day and get you up to speed with everything else that’s making headlines.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The break will be much needed as gun prop Payne Haas played out the game with a heavily strapped left ankle.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The team is hopeful of having captain and halfback Adam Reynolds back from a hamstring strain for the preliminary final.<\/p>\n

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