‘No fractures’: Broncos play down on-field spat between Reece Walsh and Corey Oates

An ugly argument between Broncos star Reece Walsh and veteran Corey Oates against the Titans has highlighted the frustration in the Broncos side as they grapple with their failed season.

Broncos players insist they are not a fractured team following an ugly on-field spat between rising star Reece Walsh and veteran Corey Oates.

Walsh and Oates were involved in a lengthy verbal argument during Brisbane’s disastrous 46-18 loss to the Titans on Saturday.

Walsh unloaded on Oates following a turnover from a scrum play in the 66th minute.

With the Broncos trailing 26-18 and attacking Gold Coast’s line, Walsh went for a high-risk first tackle play and hit a steaming Oates with a bullet pass from close range.

The ball went to ground, prompting Walsh to unload on Oates and the two exchanged words for an extended period as injured Titans hooker Sam Verrills was attended to.

Reece Walsh and Corey Oates

It was a poor look for a team in crisis following eight losses in nine games which has seen Brisbane plummet into the NRL’s bottom four.

Walsh produced two moments of individual brilliance in the game but also came up with a number of questionable plays and his verbal barrage at 215-game club legend Oates was a bad look before 25,278 at Cbus Super Stadium.

Broncos captain Adam Reynolds said the 22-year-old Walsh was still maturing and his spat with Oates wasn’t a sign of a fractured playing group.

“It’s a part of learning, he’s still a young kid and growing into his role,” he said.

“He’s a competitor and tries hard. He’s going to get errors in his game but we believe in Reece.

“Those things happen. He’s still learning.

“I wouldn’t say (it’s a sign of the team being fractured).”

Broncos prop Corey Jensen said ill discipline was costing the team more than a lack of unity.

“There’s no fractures,” he said.

“It’s ill discipline at times.

“We’ve got to find ways to scrap through it and we’re not doing that at the moment.

“We’ve got to keep working hard and building.”

The Broncos would need a miracle to make the top 8. NRL Photos

The Broncos have only won one match since their one-point Magic Round triumph over Manly and need a miracle to qualify for this year’s finals series.

If they lose to the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night it will officially be curtains for season 2024 – a dramatic fall from the highs of last year’s grand final campaign.

Reynolds said it was hard to put a finger on what had gone wrong at Red Hill after the Broncos went within a whisker of winning last year’s premiership.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” he said.

“We were pretty good in the first half (18-10 lead) and gave ourselves a good chance going into the second half but we didn’t compete hard enough.

“(Lack of confidence) can come into question but I believe in the group. I know what we’re capable of and that breeds confidence.”

Originally published as ‘No fractures’: Broncos play down on-field spat between Reece Walsh and Corey Oates