Reece Walsh escapes headbutt ban, Broncos skipper suspended

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Broncos superstar Reece Walsh will be free to play in next week’s preliminary final after being fined $3000 for headbutting Canberra’s Hudson Young.

Brisbane skipper Pat Carrigan however is facing a one-game ban for a careless high tackle on Morgan Smithies, where an early guilty plea would keep his grand final hopes alive if the Broncos can advance to the decider without him.

Walsh and Young were both sin-binned in Brisbane’s epic 94-minute, 29-28 golden point victory on Sunday, but the Brisbane custodian was issued a grade 1 striking charge for the incident.

Young was not charged, while Walsh would face a two-game ban were he to challenge the charge at the judiciary.

Walsh was also issued a $1800 fine for contrary conduct after he gave the GIO Stadium crowd the finger as he walked from the field.

The 23-year-old returned from the sin bin to trigger a stunning Broncos fightback from 28-12 down, engineering three tries in seven minutes before a Ben Hunt field goal finally secured an incredible win.

Canberra’s Zac Hosking was also issued a grade 1 dangerous contact charge for making contact with Walsh’s legs as he lined up a last-second field goal in regulation time. The subsequent penalty goal allowed Brisbane to level the scores and send the game to extra time. Hosking is face a $1000 fine.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and captain Joe Tapine were both miffed by the fact Walsh wasn’t sent off for his headbutt on Young, with Stuart declaring “they’ve set a precedent now, you’re allowed to headbutt” after full-time.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire said he thought Carrigan’s hit on Smithies was a head clash but Carrigan was sin-binned by referee Ashley Klein while Smithies was taken off for a HIA, which he subsequently cleared.

Brisbane will host the winner of Sunday’s Bulldogs-Panthers semi-final in the grand final qualifier at Suncorp Stadium. Back-rower Brendan Piakura is awaiting confirmation of a facial fracture that would rule him out, while powerhouse prop Payne Haas carried an ankle injury for much of Sunday’s cliffhanger.