Heated Reece Walsh-Kotoni Staggs on-field confrontation sparks Broncos against Titans

Broncos superstars Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs had a heated verbal altercation before the halftime break. Four minutes into the second half the pair combined to put Gold Coast to the sword.

Brisbane’s playmaking Dream Team gave Des Hasler nightmares after Reece Walsh and Ben Hunt kept the Broncos’ top-four hopes alive with a 26-14 derby disposal of the Titans on Sunday night.

The Broncos overcame a scrappy start with three tries in a nine-minute blitz to bury the lowly Titans as Walsh, Hunt, Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds roadtested their ‘Super Spine’ at Cbus Super Stadium.

This wasn’t Brisbane’s finest display - their execution was generally poor - but the Broncos simply had too much class for a last-placed Titans side hurtling toward their third wooden spoon in 14 years.

With Walsh in the mood, the Broncos led 14-2 at half-time, 20-2 after 43 minutes and withstood a two-try Jojo Fifita fightback to post their fifth straight victory and stay two wins adrift of the fourth-placed Warriors with a 10-6 record.

“It’s always good to win ugly,” Broncos skipper Reynolds said. “The good teams find a way to win.”

HOOKING GOOD

After 18 frustrating rounds, Brisbane coach Michael Maguire finally got the chance to deploy Hunt at hooker in his return from a hamstring injury to team with Walsh, Mam and Reynolds.

Their maiden union was largely clunky, but Hunt’s bone-rattling shot on Jaimin Jolliffe, which forced the ball free in the 18th minute, was evidence of his potential around the rucks.

And let’s not forget the ‘Fifth Beatle’ Billy Walters, the unheralded super sub who was Brisbane’s match-winner yet again.

With Brisbane teetering after two Titans tries in nine minutes whittled the deficit to 20-14, Walters produced a sublime show-and-go to cross 18 minutes from time and break the Coast’s hearts.

“I was really pleased,” Maguire said of his spine. “’Hunty’ hasn’t played nine for a while but he is a true pro and he can control a game, so he is only going to improve.”

Billy Walters scored the match-winning try. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

DES MAN WALKING

The Titans now have the power to sack Hasler.

A clause in Hasler’s contract states the Gold Coast can sever ties with the coach if the Titans can no longer mathematically make the top eight and that’s now a grim reality.

Not even eight straight wins will clinch a finals berth for the Titans. Gold Coast bosses must decide in the coming days whether to formally end this Des-aster, but the coach is defiant.

“I’ve only been at it 18 months,” Hasler said. “I am one of the most competitive people you can come across. It’s not something I am enjoying, particularly when I know what’s in the four walls.”

REECE’S RAGE

Brisbane’s sloppy first-half boiled over when Walsh and centre teammate Kotoni Staggs had a heated verbal altercation seconds before the half-time break.

Walsh was visibly angry at Staggs spilling a long ball and took his frustration out on the centre, who clearly looked annoyed, death-staring the fullback as he hit back with some choice words of his own.

Three minutes after the break, the duo smoked the peace pipe. Walsh released Staggs and the centre, superb with 206 metres, streaked away before drawing the Titans’ last man for ‘Reece Lightning’ to finish off a 65-metre movement for 20-2.

“We are adults,” Reynolds said of the Walsh-Staggs clash. “Sure enough they fixed it up and scored a long range try. It’s good to have that feedback on the field.”

Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs exchange words.

BIG BEN’S BEAUTY

The absence of starting props Payne Haas and Corey Jensen gave North Sydney recruit Ben Talty another chance and he took it.

The 26-year-old made his NRL debut last week and he capped a fine second game when he scored Brisbane’s opening try in the 34th minute to break a 2-all deadlock.

The only downside was the latest concussion blow for boom back-rower Brendan Piakura, who failed his HIA after smashing face-first into the turf attempting to score in the 12th minute.

Originally published as Heated Reece Walsh-Kotoni Staggs on-field confrontation sparks Broncos against Titans