NRL 2024: Former Bronco Andrew McCullough calls for rule change after Reece Walsh-Taylan May head clash

A former Bronco has spoken out over the handling of the Reece Walsh-Taylan May head clash, calling for change after saying that the Penrith centre should have been removed from the game.

Reece Walsh.

A former Broncos star has called for rugby league to change its rules following the NRL’s confession that the game fluffed its lines in handling the Reece Walsh affair.

Former Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough, now an analyst on SEN radio, believes the league must change its rules to cater for situations similar to the collision between Walsh and Penrith’s Taylan May, which left Walsh with a fractured cheekbone.

May was penalised but allowed to stay on the field, but NRL head of football Graham Annesley admitted on Monday that May should have been charged.

McCullough said placing May on report did not change the unfair impact on the game, where Brisbane, despite an honourable second half revival, temporarily lost its way due to a series of positional changes.

“If a player has been put on report, I would like to see that player go off for the same amount of time as the player who is injured,’’ McCullough said.

“And, in a situation where we saw in the Penrith game, where Walsh did not return to the field, then May’s night would be over as well. I think that is only fair.

Former Bronco Andrew McCullough has called for rule change following the handling of the Reece Walsh affair. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“If you lose your star fullback because of something like that, then it’s only fair that the centre who was part of it deserves to go for the same amount of time.

“Otherwise, it just can be too hard for the team who cops the setback. The other night you had backrowers like Brendan Piakura and Jordan Riki up in the centres after Walsh was injured.

“I am not saying this just because it is the Broncos. It would be the same if someone took Nathan Cleary out of a game and got reported.”

BRONCOS LEGENDS BREAKS RANKS

Broncos great Gorden Tallis believes it would not have been possible for Penrith’s Taylan May to pull out of the controversial collision that will sideline Reece Walsh for more than a month.

Walsh will be sidelined for between four to six weeks due a facial fracture sustained when May rushed out of the line to tackle him only for the duo to clash heads.

Gorden Tallis has taken to the defence of Penrith’s Taylan May. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The tackle has divided the league world with the NRL taking no action further action against May who was penalised by referee Gerard Sutton but surprisingly allowed to stay on the field.

“He (May) made a great read but Reece got to him quicker and all that kind of stuff,’’ Tallis said on Triple M.

“In slow motion it looks horrible and (like) he could have pulled out but you can’t. You make that decision.

“There is no doubt what Reece did to Penrith in the (grand) final, all the time they would have tried to shut him down. I thought it would ruin the game but it was a tackle that went wrong.’’

Reece Walsh.

Meanwhile, Broncos captain Adam Reynolds will be given until Thursday to prove his fitness from a knee injury for Friday night’s blockbuster against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.

With Walsh and Payne Haas (knee) sidelined for the next month the Broncos are hoping Reynolds can prove his fitness but they will take no risks if he is even borderline.

State of Origin coach Billy Slater said on Nine the positive element of the Broncos injury woes was that it will give other players a chance to prove themselves while the stars are out and the squad could become stronger for the setbacks later in the season.

The Cowboys ($1.80) are slight favourites with bookmakers, an event few would have predicted just a few weeks ago at the start of the season when the Broncos were coming off their grand final loss.