Broncos Star Reece Walsh ESCAPES Suspension for Ugly Head-Butting Incident – But Canberra Fans are FUMING!
- Broncos fullback Reece Walsh copped a $3000 fine for head-butting Hudson Young in Sunday’s match against the Raiders
- Canberra fans are outraged, claiming Walsh should have been sent off for the rest of the game
- The NRL has set a precedent for light punishments for head-butting, with several players receiving fines in recent years
The NRL has sparked outrage among Canberra fans after Broncos fullback Reece Walsh escaped suspension for a shocking head-butting incident on Sunday. Walsh was only sin-binned for 10 minutes after clashing with Raiders player Hudson Young, and has since been handed a $3000 fine.
The decision has left Canberra fans fuming, with many taking to social media to express their disgust. But Broncos legend Corey Parker has come to Walsh’s defence, claiming that Young played up the contact and got up with a smile on his face.
“Hudson Young fell to the ground like you wouldn’t believe,” Parker said on SEN radio. “He dead-set went to the ground with a smile on his face, and then acted like there was some sort of hurt.”
The NRL has been accused of setting a precedent for light punishments for head-butting, with several players receiving fines in recent years. In June, Raiders forward Morgan Smithies was fined $1500 for head-butting Fonua Pole of the Wests Tigers, while Walsh and Jarome Luai were both fined for head-butting in a State of Origin game in 2023.
Ricky Stuart, the Raiders coach, was furious that Walsh wasn’t sent off for the rest of the game, claiming that it would set a precedent that players can get away with head-butting. But Parker disagrees, saying that Walsh should receive a fine but not a suspension.
“Should Reece Walsh receive a one-week suspension? Absolutely not,” Parker said. “Should he receive a fine? I think so. Hudson Young had a smile on his face. Is it a good look? No, it’s not. Should he miss a prelim final? Absolutely not.”
The news isn’t as good for Walsh’s Broncos teammate Pat Carrigan, who is facing a one-match ban for a high shot on Smithies. Carrigan will miss the preliminary final unless he challenges at the judiciary and wins, but would face a second week out if he loses.