{"id":93366,"date":"2025-08-24T23:40:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T23:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/93366\/"},"modified":"2025-08-24T23:40:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T23:40:10","slug":"michael-maguire-responds-after-reece-walsh-criticised-by-kevin-walters-over-act-in-in-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/93366\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Maguire responds after Reece Walsh criticised by Kevin Walters over act in in-goal"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can’t knock the camaraderie Reece Walsh<\/a> showed in gifting Brisbane teammate Kobe Hetherington a try in his 100-game NRL<\/a> milestone on Sunday. But the Broncos star admits the incident didn’t go down too well with coach Michael Maguire<\/a> or his former mentor Kevin Walters<\/a>, who gave the fullback a bake on Fox League’s coverage.<\/p>\n

Walsh starred in Brisbane’s 46-12 thrashing of the lowly Knights, that saw his men regain fifth spot on the ladder and keep their top-four hopes alive with two games to play. The Broncos No.1 scored one try and ran for an impressive 196 metres, also grabbing two try assists and a pair of linebreaks in another impressive showing.<\/p>\n

\"Pictured<\/p>\n

Reece Walsh copped backlash after passing up an easy try so Broncos teammate Kobe Hetherington could score in his 100th game. Pic: Fox League\/Getty<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old should have had two tries but decided to give up an easy four-pointer under the posts so Hetherington could mark his milestone game in style. Walsh combined with Jaiyden Hunt to slice through the Newcastle defence but stopped under the posts and waited for Hetherington to arrive before popping a short pass so his teammate could score.<\/p>\n

Walsh’s gesture immediately raised eyebrows, with SEN’s Jimmy Smith among those to criticise the Broncos fullback during Sunday’s call. “It’s round 25, you’re building towards a top-four position, you want to win the premiership. Reece, just score the try under the black dot and kick the goal,” he said. “It’s just really strange… what would Craig Bellamy think if he was in the box and saw Ryan Papenhuyzen do that?”<\/p>\n

Warriors legend Adam Blair agreed and said Walsh needed to be more ruthless, especially with the game still in the balance. “I think Madge Maguire would be quite similar to Craig Bellamy, throwing the F-bombs and (saying) ‘just score the try’,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It’s crazy, we’re still in the first half and he’s thinking of doing those things. You’ve got to kick them when they’re down the opposition, and don’t give them a sniff.”<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

Former Broncos coach Walters was also critical of the first half moment on Fox League’s coverage. \u201cI\u2019m not a fan of that … throwing the ball back in the in-goal,\u201d Walters said. \u201cI don\u2019t agree with it. What if he (Hetherington) dropped it… he (Walsh) is even more in the headlines then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walsh explained the gesture for his teammate after the game and revealed that Maguire was not too pleased with the fullback when he addressed the team at halftime. \u201cKobe was into me a few weeks ago that he hadn\u2019t got many tries,\u201d Walsh told Fox League after full-time. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think \u2018Madge\u2019 (Maguire) was too happy with me when I did that. I will leave that one and won\u2019t talk about it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Seen<\/p>\n

The actions of Broncos star Reece Walsh divided NRL fans during Sunday’s big win over the Knights. Pic: Getty<\/p>\n

Michael Maguire addresses Reece Walsh act amid backlash<\/p>\n

Maguire played down suggestions he gave Walsh a bake at halftime and instead chose to focus on the positives after the eye-opening moment. \u201cHe is looking after his teammates,” Maguire said when asked post-game about the Walsh incident. \u201cWe chat about those things and we will dissect the game. I know there is chatter around Reece but Reece is part of the team and the challenge is on us to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans were also quick to weigh in on the Walsh incident afterwards, with some praising the act for his Broncos teammate. But the majority of comments across social media suggested the Broncos fullback needed to show more of the professionalism that Maguire demands of his players.<\/p>\n

Is that a gee up.
Seriously.
Walsh could see there were no Knights within cooeee. He was cognisant that it was a team mates milestone game and gave the try to him.
Ffs you guys are carrying on like he turned around and kicked the ball dead.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ben (@orca_chaser) August 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Reece Walsh threw a ball to Kobie Hetherington in goal so Kobie could score.
It\u2019s causing a fuss.
He shouldn\u2019t have done it.
But he did and got away with it.
Still, better leave that out of the repertoire in future.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Peter OBrien (@PeterOB24979769) August 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

If I was coaching the Broncos, Reece Walsh would be showered by now<\/p>\n

\u2014 MickintheGong\ud83c\udf5e (@MickinGong) August 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Reece Walsh what are you doing Lol.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Acemonth (@yoelmonaro) August 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s his hundredth game boys, ease up<\/p>\n

\u2014 James (@regularmexicola) August 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n