- Kevin Walters found four-game suspension for New South Wales’ Joseph Sua’ali’i lenient
- Queensland Origin star Reece Walsh to miss Broncos’ next two games
- Walters fears other NRL teams will continue to target his star defender
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has called on the NRL to do more to protect star fullback Reece Walsh and says a four-match suspension for Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i is not enough of a deterrent to prevent others. players pursue the best in him. player.
Walsh was taken out of the State of Origin opener inside the first eight minutes when the Blues rookie came off the line and hit him high and late.
Sua’ali’i was sent off and suspended for four matches, but Walters says while the incident was closely monitored on the field, he wants the NRL to be tougher on offenders after Walsh suffered his second serious injury this season.
The striking fullback suffered a facial fracture in the grand final rematch earlier this year when Taylan May ran off the line and collided head with the speedster, and the Panthers center avoided a penalty for the tackle gone wrong. .
“This is the second time it’s happened and four weeks, to me, is not enough,” Walters enthused.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters (pictured) has called on the NRL to do more to protect star fullback Reece Walsh.
Walsh was taken out of the State of Origin opener inside the first eight minutes (pictured) when the Blues’ rookie center stepped off the line and hit him high and late.
‘I have to support our player. It’s been twice now, and the first time wasn’t even ruled out or suspended.
‘We want our great players to play. It’s not about toughness. Reece is as tough as any player in the game.
‘Four weeks to fix a guy like he did is not enough.
“The NRL has to protect him, they are the ones who have to protect him, and be tougher on suspensions.”
Walsh will miss Brisbane’s next two NRL matches after he showed symptoms of a Category 1 concussion on Wednesday night.
Walters confirmed his other Origin representatives would do well to take on the Sharks, but stopped short of accusing the Blues of deliberately chasing Walsh, who was also tackled late by Liam Martin when he launched an early kick.
“It’s not right for me to try to sense what his plan was, but I saw what his actions were and that was the first blocking play of the game. You make your own decision,” he said.
There have been suggestions that the Blues had a plan to deliberately pursue Reece Walsh.
NSW Blues’ Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i is sent off the field by referee Ashley Klein
“Teams have been targeting the best players for a long time, but I do not agree with the suspension.
“A four-week suspension will not deter another player from coming out the next time Reece plays and trying to get his head out again.”
Tristan Sailor will replace Walsh at Brisbane fullback on Saturday at Suncorp Stadium after recovering from an ankle injury sooner than expected.