The young fullback is set for another stint on the sidelines with a hand fracture.

Reece Walsh might have played his final game of the 2024 NRL season after his year from hell went from bad to worse on Tuesday. The Brisbane Broncos revealed their gun fullback suffered a hand fracture in their win over the Cowboys last weekend.

Walsh battled through the painful injury for the majority of the second half and helped the Broncos prevail to keep their season alive. Broncos officials haven’t revealed whether Walsh will require surgery, or a potential return to play timeframe, but said he will consult a specialist this week.

But according to NRL Physio Brien Seeney, he might miss the rest of the season. The leading injury expert revealed on Tuesday evening that surgery is often required for hand fractures to stabilise the break. Surgery can help accelerate the return to play timeframe, but Seeney said the typical sideline stint is 3-4 weeks.

The Broncos have a bye this weekend before rounding out the regular season with games against the Eels, Dolphins and Storm. Kevin Walters’ side are four points outside the top-eight heading into Round 24, and if they’re not a realistic chance of making the finals when Walsh is ready to return, it’s unlikely they’ll risk him.

Seeney stressed that the ‘usual’ recovery time often goes out the window when teams are desperately trying to make the finals. But the dire situation the Broncos find themselves in means it’s entirely possible Walsh’s season is over.

Other players have suffered hand fractures in 2024 and come back after missing just two weeks – namely Titans five-eighth Jayden Campbell. However Bulldogs prop Max King has missed the last five weeks.My yearly reminder late season too – “usual” recovery times can get thrown out the window a bit this time of year. Return dates often accelerated. For Walsh, if the right fracture type & a Rd 25 return after their bye not out of the question

Reece Walsh’s season from hell in 2024

If Walsh doesn’t play again this year it would complete what’s been a season from hell. The 22-year-old had a breakout year in 2023 but hasn’t been able to stay on the field in 2024.

He suffered a facial fracture in Round 3 against the Panthers that sidelined him for two weeks, and was knockout out just eight minutes into State of Origin 1. He didn’t play again until Origin 2 three weeks later, but had an unhappy time as NSW won the second and third games to claim the series.

Walsh was one of Queensland’s best in the 2023 series, but was unable to rekindle the magic this year. His form has been brilliant when he’s been at his best in 2024, but questions have risen about his defence and his capability to show up all the time at fullback.

The Broncos have crashed from grand finalists in 2023 to strugglers this year, and the frustrations showed when Walsh sprayed teammate Corey Oates during their loss to the Titans two weeks ago. The incident heavily divided opinion, with Broncos legend Steve Renouf describing it as ‘disrespectful’.

Ezra Mam out for season and Payne Haas could follow

The hand injury to Walsh comes as an absolute dagger for Walters and his Broncos side, and their chances of qualifying for the finals appear slim at best. The club also revealed on Tuesday that five-eighth Ezra Mam has undergone surgery on a syndesmosis injury and won’t play again this year.

And it’s highly unlikely we’ll see Payne Haas back on the paddock either after he went down with a foot injury two weeks ago. “Payne will undergo some further testing in coming days before we can assess when he will return, while Tyson (Smoothy – ankle injury) has begun his rehab work in the gym,” Broncos head of performance David Ballard said.