Reece Walsh may face suspension for shoulder charge

The Brisbane Broncos defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 26-16 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night. However, they may face a setback as star fullback Reece Walsh has been reported for an alleged shoulder charge. During the match, referee Todd Smith noted Walsh for a collision with Cowboys player Murray Taulagi. This occurred while Taulagi was trying to scoop up a kick near the try line. The Bunker, responsible for reviewing such incidents, determined that Walsh did not attempt to wrap his arms during the tackle. Despite the collision causing Taulagi some pain, he managed to score a try shortly after and played the rest of the game. Some commentators, like Cameron Smith, pointed out that similar incidents have led to players being sent to the sin bin, which sparked debate. Rugby league figure Phil Gould defended Walsh, saying the game has become overly strict about such tackles. Darren Lockyer, a Broncos legend, also downplayed the incident, noting it all happened quickly and that Walsh was trying to prevent a try. In the match, the Cowboys trailed 20-12 with eight minutes remaining when Broncos player Payne Haas made a decisive play, sealing the victory. The Cowboys did score a late consolation try through Jaxon Purdue. The Cowboys also suffered another blow when center Viliami Vailea had to leave the game after a finger to the eye. He initially passed a head injury assessment but later needed to update the coach about his blurred vision. The match commemorated the 10th anniversary of the 2015 grand final, which the Cowboys won.