Reece Walsh suffers a severe injury following a violent collision, while the Brisbane Broncos endure a heavy defeat against Nathan Cleary’s Penrith in a rematch of the NRL grand final.
The Brisbane Broncos had a rough outing, losing their key player Reece Walsh in a heavy defeat against NRL champions Penrith.
Walsh, who showcased an impressive performance against Latrell Mitchell in the previous week’s victory over South Sydney, was forced off the field after just five minutes due to a collision with Panthers’ Taylan May. This resulted in a significant facial injury, requiring 20 minutes for medical staff to stitch it up. Despite his attempt to return to play, Walsh experienced vision problems and retreated to the tunnel. The Broncos have confirmed that he will undergo scans on Friday morning.
In the grand-final rematch, Nathan Cleary dominated the game, guiding the Panthers to a 34-12 victory. Cleary’s exceptional performance included orchestrating four tries, including a remarkable assist to Izack Tago just before halftime.
Facing the absence of Walsh, Payne Haas, and Adam Reynolds, Cleary exploited Brisbane’s vulnerabilities with ease. He specifically targeted Brendan Piakura, who was forced to play out of position, and took advantage of the defensive gaps to set up tries.
Penrith’s defensive strategy effectively limited Brisbane’s attacking opportunities, reminiscent of their tactics from the previous year’s grand final. The injury to Walsh occurred amidst the intensified defensive pressure.
Despite Brisbane’s early lead from a penalty goal, they struggled to score again until late in the second half. Penrith’s strong performance has them in good form, while Brisbane faces challenges with multiple key players potentially sidelined.
