Ugly Reece Walsh truth exposed as Broncos cop devastating new blow in NRL defeat to Penrith
Reece Walsh played arguably his best game of the season for the Broncos on Friday night but it wasn’t enough to stop Penrith claiming victory in the grand final rematch. Brisbane’s NRL finals hopes took a brutal new blow as they went down 14-6 to the Panthers in what was a fifth straight defeat for Kevin Walters’ side, with an injury to halfback Jock Madden compounding the issues at the Broncos.
Madden limped off with a hamstring injury early in the second half and Walters says he expects the playmaker to be out for at least a month in a devastating new setback for the side. It means Brisbane will be forced to turn to their fourth-string option at halfback against the Dragons next weekend, with skipper Adam Reynolds and rookie Cody Black also sidelined with injury. Walters has indicated Josh Rogers will be handed the reins for just his third game in the NRL after impressing earlier in the season
The injury to Madden forced Walsh to step up for the Broncos on Friday night, with the livewire No.1 taking on most of the kicking duties and the bulk of the playmaking responsibility. But once again, the Broncos failed to get much going in attack as their lack of points and reliance on Walsh to create some magic were called out by a number of rugby league greats. And with Walsh set to miss Brisbane’s next match on Origin duty, it represents a massive headache for Walters’ side.
Reece Walsh brilliance not enough for stuttering Broncos
“The worrying thing for Brisbane is the lack of points, averaging 13 the last three weeks in their losses, only six tonight and they did not look like scoring too many more,” Paul Vautin said on Nine’s coverage. “But it seems now if Reece Walsh is not doing something, making breaks for the Broncos, that nothing is happening. Ezra Mam was quiet tonight.” Brad Fittler added: “When Jock Madden went off, Reece had to pretty much do everything. He started to have to do all the thinking as well.”
Walsh fired his side into a 6-4 halftime lead after slicing through Penrith’s defensive line before sprinting around fullback Dylan Edwards to score a brilliant individual try. But the Panthers showed their premiership credentials by being able to grind out an eight-point win in slippery conditions at Suncorp Stadium’s with second half tries to Brian To’o and Mitch Kenny sealing victory.
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