Reece Walsh suspended for 3 weeks after NRL judiciary finds Broncos star guilty of contrary conduct

The Broncos and Maroons have suffered a massive blow, with Reece Walsh set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after being found guilty of contrary conduct involving referee Chris Butler.

Reece Walsh has been referred straight to the NRL judiciary. Picture: NRL Imagery

Broncos star Reece Walsh will miss Origin III after he was found guilty of a contrary conduct charge and suspended for three matches for verbally abusing referee Chris Butler despite arguing that he was swearing at teammate Patrick Carrigan.

In one of the most bizarre judiciary hearings ever seen, Walsh was found guilty by the panel of Tony Puletua and former referee Sean Hampstead for saying “what the f*** do you mean, c***?” to Butler in Sunday’s loss to the Titans.

The decision wasn’t unanimous, with judiciary chair Justice Geoff Bellew the deciding vote after an hour long deliberation based on video evidence that showed Walsh’s tendency to challenge decisions earlier in the game.

The NRL asked for a four-game ban while defence counsel Nick Ghabar hoped for a one-match suspension despite Walsh being charged four times this season, including two incidents in Origin last week when he was sent off for a headbutt.

But the panel settled on three games because he didn’t question the integrity of the officials

Reece Walsh has been found guilty of contrary conduct. Picture: Jonathan Ng.

“I’m a bit disappointed in the outcome. I accept the decision of the panel,” Walsh said.

“I know that I’m a role model to young kids and the community, so I’m going to continue to work hard and be better in those areas that I need to get better at.”

The night got off to a wild start with the case delayed by 30 minutes before Carrigan appeared by video link as a witness but was on mute for two minutes.

Two Broncos fans walked from Paddington to hear the result but had to wait in the cold for more than three hours, while the lengthy hearing meant Brisbane officials missed their flight back home.

Walsh was penalised for obstruction with six minutes to go when teammate Selwyn Cobbo ran around him to gain an advantage, with Butler advancing the mark by 10 metres due to backchat.

That’s when Walsh could be heard swearing, but he was adamant that he was talking to Carrigan who had called him out for the mistake.

“He came over and was saying to me ‘slow your f****** brain’,” said Walsh.

“I just felt like at the time I was trying to help a teammate. He was telling me to think and be smart.

“I was letting the ref know that I wasn’t talking to him and that I was talking to Patrick.

“We do have a good bond and we’re honest with each other so we can have a tough conversation. It’s not the first time we had something like this happen.

“I’m erratic. I play football fast. I speak fast. He’s a lot more level-headed. That’s why he’s a senior player.”

RELIVE THE LIVE JUDICIARY COVERAGE BELOW

Reece Walsh mouths off. Picture: NRL Imagery

Walsh, Carrigan and Butler were all standing within a metre of each other, but you couldn’t hear what the Broncos lock said while everything Walsh said was crystal clear.

Butler’s post-match report showed that Walsh had been questioning decisions throughout the game, with video evidence on Tuesday night showing there had been two incidents in the first half and another one after the break before Walsh was penalised.

Butler even warned Broncos captain Adam Reynolds that Walsh would be penalised if he kept questioning decisions, but conceded in his report that he hadn’t heard what the fullback said.

“I get he’s a passionate footballer, but I can’t have what he keeps doing,” Butler told Reynolds as they walked from the field at half-time, although Walsh said that message was never conveyed.

NRL JUDICIARY LATEST: Reece Walsh and Broncos miss flight home as Butler marathon continues. Broncos entourage staying at @mrchrisnico mansion.

— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) June 27, 2023

Judiciary counsel Patrick Knowles said that Walsh’s evidence was “frankly incredulous” and “demonstrably untrue”, while he also suggested Walsh, Carrigan and Titans forward David Fifita had corroborated their stories because “their evidence was remarkably similar”.

Carrigan said he’d spoken to Walsh about a forced pass earlier in the game that led to a turnover and that he regularly tried to calm down his younger teammate.

“I felt like Reece was trying to overplay everything. I got frustrated and told him to slow his brain,” he said, explaining why he didn’t try to defuse the situation with Butler because he thought he would have been sent to the sin bin.

“When things are going crazy and tense, Reece sometimes might be all in and go 100 miles an hour. Sometimes it disadvantages the team. I told him slow his brain and leg the game play out and we can still get a result

“His actions were inhibiting us getting a result.”

Fifita tried to defend Walsh by saying he heard the whole conversation, but then buckled under cross-examination when he accidentally said that the fullback had directed the profanities towards the referee.

“I get really nervous when I speak to you. That’s not the case. That was wrong. I get intimated by speaking to you. You make me feel like I’ve done something wrong,” he said.

“I know he’s a fiery person. As an opposition player, I was trying to get under his skin.”

Walsh’s ban opens the door for Kalyn Ponga to win back his Origin spot, while AJ Brimson and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are also options to play fullback in Sydney on July 12.

RELIVE THE LIVE JUDICIARY COVERAGE BELOW

Verdict

Reece Walsh has been found GUILTY.

Split decision!! Chairman had to cast the deciding vote!

Final directions

Chairman giving his final directions to the two-man jury panel.

Emphasises onus is on the NRL to prove guilt, not on Walsh to prove his innocence.

Deliberations will finally begin shortly. I expect a verdict in about 20 minutes (but who knows).

Defence continues

It’s not very difficult to tell the truth if you were there.

The video evidence is conclusive the comment was to Carrigan. If you need more evidence, ask the players. They told you they spoke to each other, and unfortunately the ref was in close proximity.

Defence’s closing argument

None of the NRL’s case is based on what the referee said…. The referee’s report is first port of call.

Not once did the NRL’s address refer you to the referee’s report.

NRL’s closing argument

NRL: Carrigan and Fifita spoke with Walsh about this hearing. They got their stories straight. Their evidence was remarkably similar.

Some of Walsh’s evidence was demonstrably untrue.

You wouldn’t give great weight to Carrigan’s evidence of where Walsh was looking.

All players have spoken about their evidence before speaking it tonight.

Give weight to the video evidence here tonight and give greatest weight to your own common sense.

Fifita getting grilled

NRL: Did Mr Walsh reach out for this hearing?

Fifita: I reached out. I just said if you need me to do anything let me know. We just spoke about how he was wronged. I knew he wasn’t talking to the ref.

NRL: Who raised Walsh wasn’t talking to the ref between you two?

Fifita: It was me who said to Walshy he wasn’t speaking to the ref. I knew he was talking to Patty because I was right there.

NRL: Are you friends with Mr Walsh?

Fifita: I’m friends with all those boys.

Chairman asks Fifita about that last comment.

Fifita: I didn’t mean that. I just get nervous.

Chairman: So that was wrong?

Fifita: Yeah that was wrong. I get intimidated by speaking to you guys because I think I’m in the wrong.

NRL questions Fifita over Walsh comments

Defence: Did you hear what Walsh said to the ref?

Fifita: Nah, I was just giving it to him (Walsh). I tapped him on the head, I know he’s a fiery person so I was just trying to get under his skin.

I was right there and had the perfect view of Patty and Walsh and Patty said ‘Walsh control your head… slow your brain’.

Fifita: Walshy said what he said to the ref, I mean Patty, the ref was behind him.

NRL ask Carrigan if Walsh was talking to ref about obstruction.

Carrigan: You’d have to ask Reece.

NRL: To use your words, Mr Walsh’s arguing with the ref was in hindering the team, that’s why you told him to slow his f***ing brain.

Carrigan: I can’t comment on that mate.

Chairman tells him to answer.

Carrigan: My words were based on his play. I didn’t even know this was an issue until Monday lunch time. That’s how much I thought it was between us and not the ref.

NRL: Have you spoken to Walsh about it?

Carrigan: Yes it was mentioned at training.

NRL: Did you speak about the evidence?

Carrigan: No. We just spoke about how we had an argument that was misinterpreted by the referee. We both just recalled what happened.

NRL: Did you talk today at training about what you meant about slow your fucking brain?

Carrigan: No.

Defence asks Carrigan what happened:

Carrigan: I wasn’t concerned with the ref, my mind was with Reece. Earlier in the game Reece tried to throw an offload that cost us. I told him to stop going for big plays. On this play I thought he was trying to overplay again and I told him to slow his brain.

Carrigan: Right or wrong we don’t shy away from going at each other for what’s in the best interest of the team. When things are crazy and tense, Reece can be going 100 miles and it can disadvantage the team so I told him to slow his brain and we can still get a result. I thought his actions were stopping us getting a result.

Carrigan: I heard him say what the f**k do you mean c***. He said that to me.

Judiciary chairman now arguing with the defence counsel that Carrigan can’t say who Walsh was talking to.

Carrigan then interjects “He was looking straight at me. I don’t know how to say that any (clearer).”

NRL start their case

NRL: Did you hear the referee say obstruction?

Walsh: No, I was talking to Patty.

Walsh then tells the panel to rewind the tape and freezes it to show himself talking to Carrigan. Not lacking confidence this kid!

NRL: You were one metre away. I suggest you did hear him.

Walsh: No I didn’t, I was in a conversation with someone else.

NRL: You said what you said because you disagreed with the call of obstruction.

NRL: You told the referee you stopped running, the reason you said that is you were trying to explain the penalty for obstruction shouldn’t have been awarded because you stopped running. There’s no other reason to say it.

Walsh: No. That’s not why I said it.

NRL ask Walsh why the audio doesn’t pick up the comments he claims Carrigan said to him. Walsh: I’m erratic in the way I play football, I play fast and speak fast. Patty is a more senior player and level headed (so he’s speaks quietly). I responded to him in a way I’m disappointed in. But that’s our relationship.

Walsh: I play rugby league for a living, I know what the penalty was for, I was talking to Patty and not the referee.

While initially scheduled to begin at 6pm AEST, a delay meant the hearing did not begin until 6:25pm.

Reece Walsh hearing still hasn’t started. Very strange areas. He’s been here for about two hours

— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) June 27, 2023

About to start. Finally pic.twitter.com/WHkD0mfpl0

— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) June 27, 2023

HOW WALSH PLANS TO BEAT CHARGE

Reece Walsh is set to claim he was abusing Broncos and Maroons teammate Pat Carrigan – and not referee Chris Butler – when he faces a contrary conduct charge.

Walsh will fly to Sydney to plead his case in a bid to retain his Queensland No. 1 jersey for the Origin series finale and to play in Saturday night’s Battle of Brisbane against the Dolphins at the Gabba.

The Broncos fullback was referred directly to the judiciary after launching a foul-mouthed tirade in the dying stages of last Sunday’s shock loss to the Titans at Suncorp Stadium.

In audio picked up by the referee’s microphone, the NRL has accused Walsh of saying “f*** me, c***” in the direction of Butler after he was penalised for an obstruction which handed the Titans the match-sealing penalty goal.

Walsh, 20, took to Instagram on Monday to claim his abuse was not levelled at Butler and the young gun will tell the judiciary that it was instead targeted at Carrigan, who was critical of Walsh’s on-field actions during the game.

Reece Walsh. Picture: NRL Imagery

Reece Walsh and Adam Reynolds have their say.

This is in contrast to what Broncos captain Adam Reynolds claimed.

“Show the full clip. Was talking to a player on the other team,” Reynolds wrote on Instagram.

Walsh has also received private support from Gold Coast Titans forward David Fifita, who is believed to have supported his story that Butler wasn’t the target of the tirade.

It is unclear whether Fifita will testify in support of his Maroons teammate at the judiciary hearing.

Walsh addressed his Broncos teammates at a meeting on Tuesday morning as they reviewed the 18-12 loss to the Titans, which left coach Kevin Walters “angry”.

Walsh was one of a number of Broncos players that did not train on the field, with injured duo Tom Flegler and Jordan Riki absent as their seasons hang in the balance due to foot problems.

Carrigan, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan also missed the light session as Walters looks to freshen his troops up before the Dolphins clash.

Broncos prop Marty Taupau said it wasn’t ideal how the Walsh incident unfolded.

“It’s not ideal what happened, but that matter is now in front of the judiciary with our legal party,” he said.

“Whatever Reece has said (that he was abusing Carrigan), he believes. In terms of the way things unfolded, it’s not ideal.

“We are in a very competitive sport. It’s a contact sport and there’s a lot of things that happen.

“There’s a lot of things we probably regret, whether it’s saying something or actions like dropping a ball. We regret it, but try to rectify it the following week.

“I know Reece is probably remorseful for his actions, whether it’s communication or his actions on the field.

“He is a young kid with a lot of energy. He knows what he needs to fix and is on it. I wouldn’t say (he needs to) pull back. You need that competitiveness in every player that plays contact sport.

“In terms of Reece, I love the fire in him. I had it when I was younger at his age as well.

“It all comes with experience and maturity. It takes time. He realises, he knows.”

If Walsh is suspended Selwyn Cobbo and Tristan Sailor will come into calculations to play fullback against the Dolphins.

NRL GREATS SLAM REECE WALSH

Former Origin greats have slammed Reece Walsh for his on-field petulance as the Broncos fullback fights to clear his name for allegedly abusing a referee at the NRL judiciary tonight.

Ex-NSW Origin and Australia star Braith Anasta has taken aim at Walsh, telling the Queensland young gun to “just own” his behaviour after the Broncos fullback was charged for contrary conduct in Brisbane’s loss to the Titans.

And Anasta was supported by Queensland legends Cooper Cronk and Gorden Tallis, who believes Walsh could face a two or three-game ban that would wipe him out of Origin III.

Walsh was referred straight to the NRL judiciary tonight for allegedly using the words “f*** me, c***” in the vicinity of referee Chris Butler in the 75th minute of Brisbane’s 18-12 defeat against the Titans last Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.

While apologising on social media for his conduct, Walsh has vehemently denied directing the abuse at Butler, insisting his anger was aimed at Broncos teammate Pat Carrigan, whom he used to live with.

But Anasta isn’t buying it and has told Walsh to cop his outburst on the chin.

“He is better off owning it,” NRL 360 host Anasta said on the program on Monday night.

Reece Walsh has been referred straight to the NRL judiciary. Picture: NRL Photos

“You get frustrated in games, you say stupid things, it’s not personal.

“It wasn’t a personal attack. He swore at the referee, he shouldn’t have, but just own it.

“Just own it.

“He (Butler) marched him 10 metres so he knows he said it to him.

“Are we going to sit here and act like he didn’t say it to the referee?

“The other players went over to calm him down because he was getting carried away.”

Tallis, who was famously sent-off for abusing referee Bill Harrigan in an Origin fixture, said it’s time for Walsh to pull his head in.

“This is a sign of frustration of like, ‘Hey, no, no, you aren’t better than everybody else’,” Tallis said.

“You still have to keep proving yourself.

“I reckon he was frustrated, but I don’t know if it was aimed at the referee just because of his eyeline.

“If the referee actually says he directed it at me, then we have to go with the referee.

“I like when he grabbed his jersey in Origin to the crowd (after being sent off in Game Two), but I don’t like standing between five or six guys and mouthing off (at the referee).

“If the referee goes to the judiciary and they ask him and he says (Walsh said it), that’s it, that’s final.”

Braith Anasta has taken aim at Reece Walsh, telling the Queensland young gun to “just own” his behaviour.

Former Queensland halfback Cronk believes Broncos coach Kevin Walters and Maroons mentor Billy Slater are key figures in helping Walsh mature.

“I don’t think Billy would ever say this, but I think he probably sees a bit of himself in Reece Walsh,” he said on NRL 360.

“The way he started his career, the flashes of brilliance, and Billy learnt a few lessons early on.

“Instead of fighting fire with the wrong way of doing things, you have to be physically ready, you have to be physical in contact.

“Teams will be coming for Reece Walsh, but he can’t be doing these things to fight back. He needs to be physical, cop it on the chin, get up and play the ball and do those things.

“I think the coach is the most important thing in this.

“Billy went through his issues and Craig Bellamy (Storm coach) sent him back to reserve grade for a few weeks to chip him on a couple of things and I think Billy (Queensland coach) is the best influence for Reece Walsh good and bad.

“What he has been able to do in the Maroon jersey has a lot of Billy’s influence.

“The Broncos will be the beneficiary of that at the back end of this year but I dare say Reece Walsh is a kid who won’t do that again (blow up at match officials) any time again soon.”

Originally published as Reece Walsh suspended for 3 weeks after NRL judiciary finds Broncos star guilty of contrary conduct