NRL 2023: Reece Walsh stars in Broncos’ 28-16 win over Cowboys as Corey Oates goes down in sickening hit
The horror image doesn’t need any explanation other than does the suspension for inflicting this sort of injury fit the offence? writes Phil Rothfield.
NRL
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This is the X-ray that shows why the NRL banned shoulder charges years ago.
Corey Oates suffered a broken jaw against the Cowboys on Friday night and will miss eight weeks.
He was rushed to hospital on Friday night and had surgery to wire the jaw on Saturday.
Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater collected the veteran winger with a shoulder charge.
It was careless rather than intentional.
Drinkwater was charged with a grade three offence.
He misses only three weeks while Oates misses two months.
Somehow the penalty seems insufficient.
The Queensland Origin winger was surging towards the tryline in the 44th minute when he was crunched by Drinkwater, who was sin-binned.
But it wasn’t enough to stop the Broncos as Brisbane legend Corey Parker has hailed the performance of Reece Walsh following the flashy fullback’s derby demolition of the Cowboys.
Brisbane legend Corey Parker has hailed Reece Walsh as the attacking “X-factor” who has turned the Broncos into title contenders following the flashy fullback’s derby demolition of the Cowboys.
Wonder boy Walsh produced a man-of-the-match performance in his Broncos debut, setting up three tries and scoring one himself in his return from a fractured cheekbone to inspire Brisbane’s 28-16 triumph at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
The 20-year-old was dangerous every time he touched the ball and Parker, a 347-game Broncos icon, believes Walsh’s backfield magic can ignite Brisbane in their quest to break a 17-year premiership drought.
“He is a real X-factor for the Broncos and at this stage they are in really good shape,” said Parker, a member of Brisbane’s last premiership-winning team of 2006, on Fox following the Broncos’ disposal of the Cowboys.
“Reece Walsh is a great story for the Broncos.
“He came through the junior system in the under-12s, 13s and 14s, he came into the first grade system and played some first grade at the Warriors, but since coming back to the Broncos, he has returned a more mature player.
“Some of the plays and movements and the speed he showed to beat players, left and right, and create on the edge was outstanding.
“On that stage, the bright lights of Suncorp in his debut, Walsh was electric.”
Brisbane’s star recruit finished with 111 running metres, four line break assists, one try assist and two tackle busts from 11 runs in a commanding performance in the Broncos’ No.1 jumper.
While Walsh tore the Cowboys to shreds in attack, he also impressed in defence, holding up hooker Reece Robson over the tryline in the 31st minute when the Broncos were already trailing 8-0.
The fullback young gun was rapt with his Broncos debut and the way he coped with Cowboys defenders targeting the cheekbone he fractured in a trial against the Titans last month.
“I didn’t think my debut would be like that,” he said.
“It was awesome to put on that Broncos jumper again and experience Suncorp Stadium with a packed crowd (43,162 fans).
“It’s something we can keep building on.”
Of his facial fracture, Walsh said: “If it was up to me I would have played the next week (after his trial), but that’s why we have doctors.
“My face felt good out there, the Cowboys were trying to put some shots on it, but it was good to get the win on the back of the boys’ efforts.
“’Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) made it simple for me to go out there and do my job and the boys made it a lot easier out there for me.
“When they are laying platforms and working their butts off, my job is to come up with points and do what I do.”
Broncos skipper and halfback Adam Reynolds said his priority this season is to feed quality ball to Walsh.
“I just have to work out ways to get him into space,” he said.
“My job is pretty simple, I square up the defence and get him clean ball and you see what he can do.
“Reece studies the game. He loves the game. He is excellent at executing plays and he has speed and toughness going deep into the line, whether it’s throwing a short ball or taking the line on.
“He is always asking questions, he is coming to me with new plays and finding ways we can break down defences.
“It’s no fluke what he does on the field.”
REECE LIGHTNING SPARKS BRONCOS ATTACK IN COSTLY VICTORY
Star recruit Reece Walsh produced a sizzling Broncos debut as their $1.3 million man carved-up the Cowboys to fire Brisbane to a sensational 28-16 victory in a wild and willing Queensland derby.
Reece Lightning struck before 43,162 fans at Suncorp Stadium but the joy of Walsh’s wondrous first-up showing was tempered by the pain of Broncos teammate Corey Oates suffering a broken jaw.
The Queensland Origin winger was surging towards the tryline in the 44th minute when he was crunched by Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater, who was sin-binned and placed on report for a high shot.
Oates could face months on the sidelines in a blow for a Brisbane side that atoned for last year’s horror 38-12 derby loss at Suncorp by outlasting a Cowboys side that fumbled and bumbled in the wet.
“It’s no good for Corey, he is off to hospital,” Walters said.“That wasn’t a very good incident to have in our game, but we’ll leave it to the NRL now.”
It was a magnificent display by the Broncos, who proved last week’s 13-12 boilover of Penrith was no fluke as they overturned an 8-0 deficit to post their second consecutive victory of the new season.
Walsh with the swan dive!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 10, 2023
📺 Watch #NRLBroncosCowboys on ch. 502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/B1ijnGXtqA
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Fittingly, Walsh nailed the coffin shut, the flashy fullback finishing off a Herbie Farnworth bust to sink the Cowboys three minutes from time.
“If that’s his first game it’s great for everyone involved,” a beaming Walters said of Walsh.
“That’s what good players do
“It was a great start for him, he has good skills in his kitbag but it’s only early for Reece.
“We brought him back to do some of the things he did, so I’m very proud.”
REECE LIGHTNING
The Broncos bought Reece Walsh to bring some sizzle at the back. Holy smoke. He didn’t disappoint.
Making his official Broncos debut after returning from a fractured cheekbone, the backfield wonder boy sliced and diced North Queensland’s defensive line with his speed chiming into the backline.
You can’t coach speed and Walsh has a formidable extra gear.
His pure pace turns slight chances into tryscoring moments and wizard Walsh left the Cowboys in tatters, having a hand in three tries to single-handedly leave the visitors choking on his vapour trail.
The 20-year-old released Oates, who superbly kicked for Ezra Mam’s 39th minute try which levelled scores 10-all at half-time.
After the break, speed demon Walsh floored the Cowboys with a one-two punch, grubber kicking for Kotoni Staggs’ 45th minute try before putting Jesse Arthars away five minutes later for Mam’s second try for 20-10.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten praised Walsh’s class and defended Drinkwater’s actions in his tackle on Oates.
“Walsh has added another dimension to their side,” he said.
“The sin-binning I’m comfortable with. Scott’s tackle happened really quick, Corey changed direction late, he had one foot on the deck and no intent to make the collision where he got him.
“It was an accident, the kid was doing his best to stop the try.”
ELECTRIC EZRA
If Walsh was sublime, he had a magical partner-in-crime in five-eighth Mam.
The Indigenous flyer was magnificent, his two tries supplemented by 119 metres, 11 runs, one tackle bust and one line break as he repeatedly used his blinding pace over the first five metres to spear through the Cowboys line.
In Walsh and Mam, the Broncos possess a dynamic duo that can bust the game open from anywhere on the park.
Their attacking magic makes the Broncos a genuine premiership force.
A whole lot going on here!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 10, 2023
📺 Watch #NRLBroncosCowboys on ch. 502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/B1ijnGY1g8
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🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/eCz1wEDAhypic.twitter.com/2CoAGzrhto
BRUTAL BRONCOS
The first fortnight suggests Brisbane have the defensive steel to win this year’s premiership.
Kevin Walters’ troops jammed Penrith into submission last week and this time, they muscled up again in defence to claim two big scalps in the space of seven days.
The Broncos’ tryline defence was again outstanding with the likes of Pat Carrigan, Billy Walters, Payne Haas and Kurt Capewell putting their bodies on the line. They hustled and bustled the Cowboys into error.
SLOPPY COWBOYS
After their fairytale 2022 campaign, North Queensland are learning it’s not so easy being the hunted.
Several Cowboys big-names cracked under pressure with co-captain Chad Townsend kicking out on the full, while Drinkwater and Peta Hiku were placed on report.
For the second straight week, the Cowboys were woeful in the second half and this Broncos bash-up is the title reality check they need.
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