SAD NEWS: Brisbane Broncos HC have been banned for 3matches because of…

Reece Walsh, the fullback for Brisbane, was found guilty of engaging in disruptive behavior towards a match official. As a result, Walsh will miss Origin III and face a three-match suspension.
Walsh was forwarded immediately to the judiciary over the charge of contrary conduct after Brisbane’s Sunday 18–12 loss to Gold Coast.
Walsh cried out, “What the f*** do you mean, c***?” right after Butler blew an obstruction penalty, according to audio captured by on-field microphones.

However, the defense’s argument on Tuesday night was based on the assertion that he had been speaking to teammate Patrick Carrigan in reality.

Walsh said that Carrigan had spoken to him and advised him to “slow your f***ing brain” in order to avoid receiving any more penalties. In response, Walsh had used foul language.
Carrigan and Titans forward David Fifita, who were the players closest to the explosion, both testified via video link.

Despite their admission that they had discussed the incident with Walsh before, the judges decided not to consider their testimony.

Fifita first claimed that Walsh had addressed the referee with his remark, but after Mr. Bellew questioned him, Walsh changed his mind.

Fifita remarked, “I just get real nervous when I speak to youse.”

“I just get intimidated by speaking to you because I think I’m in the wrong.”

According to Patrick Knowles, the NRL’s attorney, Walsh’s decision to approach the referee and clarify that he had been “talking to Patty” indicated that the fullback was aware that his remarks to the official had crossed a line.

He also questioned if Walsh’s tantrum would have been a fitting reaction to Carrigan coming up to counsel him.

“It’s much more likely that person, who by his own admission can be volatile, was reacting to the referee,” Knowles stated.

Additionally, Knowles criticized some of Walsh’s evidence, calling it “demonstrably untrue” and “frankly incredulous,” particularly the assertion that Walsh had not been protesting the obstruction punishment when he had initially approached Butler.

The two-man jury, which included Penrith greats Tony Puletua and Sean Hampstead, debated for an hour but was unable to reach a unanimous decision during a two-hour and forty-minute hearing on Tuesday night.
Geoffrey Bellew SC

 

In determining Walsh’s guilt, the judiciary chair, , found that Walsh had most likely been speaking to Butler rather than Carrigan.

Before three was agreed upon, Walsh’s defense team suggested a one-game penalty, while the NRL’s legal representative suggested a four-match sentence.

The fullback will be out from Saturday’s games against the Dolphins, Origin III, and round 20 against Canterbury.

Following the announcement of the judgment, Walsh gave a prepared statement to the media.

“I am disappointed with the outcome but I accept the decision of the panel,” he stated.
“Obviously I know that I’m a role model to young kids in the community and I’m going to continue to work hard and be better in those areas that I need to get better at.”

The Broncos are negatively impacted by his ban as they will be without Origin prop Thomas Flegler and backrower Jordan Riki for their game on Saturday.

Plantar fasciitis is projected to keep Riki out of action for 6–8 weeks, while a linsfrac injury will keep Flegler out of action for 3–4 weeks.

For Queensland, it means a competition between Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and AJ Brimson to replace Walsh at fullback, though winger Selwyn Cobbo may potentially play the position.

In order to concentrate on his club responsibilities with Newcastle, Walsh’s predecessor Kalyn Ponga has already ruled himself out of the Origin series.