The Broncos face their worst fears as Reece Walsh confirms a facial fracture due to injuries, while Panthers’ Taylan May escapes suspension despite a serious head clash.
Brisbane’s injury crisis deepens as Reece Walsh, their star fullback, faces a spell on the sidelines due to a facial fracture revealed by scans following his unsettling collision during the match against Penrith.
Taylan May, the Panthers center, avoided any disciplinary action for his clash with Walsh, which forced the Broncos’ key player out of the game within the first few minutes. However, the news wasn’t positive for Kevin Walters’ team.
After the 34-12 loss, Walsh underwent scans on Thursday night, confirming the facial fracture. “As a result, he cannot fly home and is being driven back to Brisbane today [via bus] by our staff,” stated Broncos’ high-performance boss Dave Ballard.
This injury exacerbates Brisbane’s already dire situation, with Walsh now joining their other key players on the sidelines. Halfback Adam Reynolds is expected to return no earlier than round five against Melbourne, while prop Payne Haas is sidelined for the next month due to a knee problem.
Walters acknowledged the need to reassess the team’s interchange bench strategy after Walsh’s injury left them vulnerable on the edges. Second-rower Brendan Piakura and prop Fletcher Baker had to adapt to unfamiliar roles, with Selwyn Cobbo filling in at fullback for Walsh. This adjustment made the Broncos’ defense susceptible, allowing the premiers to exploit their weaknesses with three first-half tries on that side.
Reflecting on the situation, Walters emphasized the necessity of having specialists on the bench to cover potential injuries to outside backs, acknowledging the need for strategic selection moving forward.
