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Broncos guns ‘banned’ from city after off-season drama

The Broncos have responded after the NRL Integrity Unit finished its investigation into Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam’s turbulent holiday.

Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam in Bali. Photo: Instagram.
Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam in Bali. Photo: Instagram.

Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam have been told to stay away from Bali.

Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy has told News Corp the team have been advised to holiday somewhere else for their next off-season vacation.

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It comes as Donaghy said the NRL Integrity Unit has closed its investigation into the talented pair following an incident at a nightspot in Bali.

The duo arrived back in Brisbane recently after an eventful time that was supposed to be well away from the spotlight.

The pair made headlines last week when Walsh was photographed lying on a hospital bed after a surfing incident.

The photo, taken from the “resuscitation area” of a medical facility in Indonesia, also showed Mam standing next to the same hospital bed holding drinks.

That development came after News Corp first reported the NRL received a complaint about the two footballers after an incident in which a member of the public’s mobile phone was allegedly damaged.

Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam in Bali. Photo: Instagram.
Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam in Bali. Photo: Instagram.

The players have since paid for the third party’s phone to be replaced.

According to Donaghy, the NRL Integrity Unit has now closed the matter without any action being taken against the Queensland stars.

“I’ve spoken to both,” he said.

“From what I understand, I don’t believe there’s a lot in any of it but I strongly encouraged them to perhaps next time they have a holiday that they choose a different destination and possibly turn their phones off.

“Those matters, from our perspective, are closed off. It’ll be a matter we readdress in the New Year when they’re back from their break.

“I believe the matter has been closed off (by the NRL).”

Walsh after Origin Game 1. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Walsh after Origin Game 1. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Walsh can’t escape the spotlight and his future was one of the big talking points to emerge from new coach Michael Maguire’s first press conference after he was unveiled by the club on Tuesday.

Maguire laughed off suggestions there was “bad blood” between himself and Walsh after he masterminded the fullback’s State of Origin torment this year

The 2024 NSW Origin mentor has been parachuted straight into the Broncos’ hot seat less than a week after the club sensationally sacked former coach Kevin Walters.

After a horror season that saw the side finish 12th on the NRL ladder after winning just three of its final 13 matches, the axe came down on Walters, despite having taken the side to its first grand final since 2015 in 2023 — the club’s only one not coached by Wayne Bennett.

It’s a sign that the being good is not good enough at the Broncos, who are looking to return to their previous success.

While Walsh played in all three Origin matches this season, between round 12 and round 20, the star fullback played in just one club match after facing plenty of attention from the Blues stars.

Walsh and Mam are far rom the only Aussie sport stars to make headlines in Bali.

Collingwood AFL star Jordan De Goey in 2022 was fined $25,000 by the Magpies after video emerged of him appearing to try and partially expose a woman’s breast at a Bali nightclub.

Titans star David Fifita was also taken into police custody after a Bali nightclub brawl.

Fifita was playing for the Broncos at the time.

Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona was also banned by the NRL over a Bali brawl in 2019.

Originally published as Broncos guns ‘banned’ from city after off-season drama

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/broncos-guns-banned-from-city-after-offseason-drama/news-story/7b6ef4026bc8440073a0571687a280e2