- Facial fracture confirmed for fullback Reece Walsh
- Broncos star collided with Panthers center Taylan May
- Brisbane hit by injury crisis
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Brisbane’s injury crisis has deepened with star fullback Reece Walsh expected to be sidelined after scans showed a facial fracture resulting from his sickening knock against Penrith.
Panthers center Taylan May avoided charges for his head clash with Walsh, which knocked the Broncos superstar out of the game in just the fourth minute.
But the news was not so good for Kevin Walters’ men.
Walsh was rushed for exams Thursday night after the 34-12 loss, and they have since revealed a facial fracture.
“As a result he cannot return home and he is being driven back to Brisbane today (on a bus) by our staff,” Broncos high performance boss Dave Ballard said.
Brisbane’s injury crisis has deepened with star fullback Reece Walsh expected to be sidelined after scans showed a facial fracture following his sickening knock against Penrith.
Walsh and Panthers center Taylan May collided in sickening fashion in just the fourth minute on Thursday night (pictured)
“We will be able to determine how much time Reece will miss once the injury has subsided and after consulting a specialist in the coming days.”
Walsh’s injury leaves Brisbane without their three most influential players ahead of next Friday’s clash against North Queensland.
Halfback Adam Reynolds will not return until at least round five against Melbourne, while a knee problem has also sidelined prop Payne Haas for the next month.
Walters also admitted Thursday night that he had to rethink his interchange bench, after Walsh’s injury left the Broncos exposed around the edges.
Second rower Brendan Piakura was forced to defend at left center and support Fletcher Baker on one edge, with Selwyn Cobbo playing fullback in place of Walsh.
This allowed the premiers to easily dismantle the visitors’ defence, with three tries in the first half from that side.
“We had Tristan Sailor parked as the 18th man, but he couldn’t get into the game. So we won’t do that anymore,” Walters said.
“We need to (have someone like Sailor on the bench), because if you lose some of those outside backs, you need specialists.
“Me, as a coach, I have to choose the right people on our bench to make sure we cover everything. I take some responsibility for it.
Tristan Sailor – who was the 18th man against the Panthers – will likely replace Reece Walsh as Brisbane’s fullback
Meanwhile, Walters said after the match that he thought the clash between Walsh and May was “just one of those things that happens”.
May was booked after rushing off the line and attempting to hit the Broncos fullback, with the two men clashing after Walsh passed the ball.
Referee Gerard Sutton told May he had a “duty of care” to avoid the head hit and should have leaned down to prepare for contact.
But Penrith coach Ivan Cleary insisted the contact was simply accidental, and his view was supported by the match review panel.
“No one wants to see the best players leave, but I just saw it as an accident,” Cleary said.
“I thought he was trying to get out of the tackle, he was straight up, which is not how you tackle.
“If he had leaned down, he probably would have hit him in the head with his shoulder.
“Reece Walsh moves pretty fast, these things happen. This doesn’t worry me too much.