Broncos can’t recover from loss of Reece Walsh as Panthers run riot in grand final replay

The Brisbane Broncos staged a brave fight back but could not recover from a horror start against the Panthers. Hear from coach Kevin Walters here.

Panthers vs Broncos Round 3 2024. Picture: Getty Images

Superstar fullback Reece Walsh suffered a facial fracture as the battered Broncos suffered dismal 34-12 drubbing at the hands of a Nathan Cleary-inspired Panthers juggernaut on Thursday night.

Already missing key duo Payne Haas and Adam Reynolds with knee injuries, the Broncos’ injury crisis intensified when lethal weapon Walsh (eye) lasted just four minutes in Brisbane’s night of disaster at BlueBet Stadium.

The grand final rematch turned into a Blue Mountains massacre as king Cleary ran amok, engineering a six-tries-to-two rout to rub salt into the wounds of a Brisbane side he first tormented in last year’s NRL decider.

Nathan Cleary returned to haunt the Broncos once again, embarrassing them with his masterclass performance. Picture: Getty Images

WALSH’S WOES

It was a wretched night for the Broncos, whose offensive shapes were thrown into disarray when Walsh departed early with blood pouring from his face after a sickening collision with Panthers centre Taylan May.

Despite passing his HIA, Walsh failed to return, struggling for vision as his battered left eye closed completely, and subsequent scans have ruled the livewire out for up to a month.

Reece Walsh initially passed his HIA after this collision & was about to come back on, but had issues with his vision so went back into the sheds.

Concern obviously there for concussion (delayed symptoms) or eye socket fracture - hopefully he avoids both but doesn’t look good. pic.twitter.com/X8sN0luIs6

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 21, 2024

Trailing 22-2 at halftime and 34-2 after 50 minutes, the Broncos showed some fight in the final half-hour without Walsh, who had five stitches to a nasty gash under his eye.

“Reece was having trouble seeing, he has a big gash,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said. “He tried to get back on but couldn’t do it.”

The Broncos will be sweating on the fitness of Reece Walsh for Round 4. Picture: NRL Imagery

JOCK SHOCKED

Emerging Broncos playmaker Jock Madden copped a chilling reality check of world-class scrumbase play against Panthers maestro Cleary.

In the absence of chief commander Reynolds, 23-game rookie Madden had a golden chance to showcase his NRL bona fides against the classy Cleary.

The master duly mauled the apprentice.

While Madden was caught on the last tackle with his first touch and battled behind a beaten pack, Cleary was at his talismanic best, showing more tricks than Copperfield to pilot the premiers to a 22-2 halftime lead.

WORLD OF PAYNE

The loss of superstar prop Haas spotlight some glaring problems with Brisbane’s pack.

The Broncos have gone to the open market for a forward and they need to find another genuine enforcer to support Haas, whose absence at BlueBet was amplified by a rampant Penrith forward unit.

The Panthers powered over the advantage line like a purring Ferrari as Broncos bookends Corey Jensen, Fletcher Baker, Xavier Willison and Martin Taupau were roadkill in the middle third.

“We faced a bit of adversity early and didn’t handle it as well as we should have,” Walters said.

The Broncos backline was left in disarray after the loss of Walsh, with Selwyn Cobbo moving to fullback and Brendan Piakura moving to centre. Picture: NRL Imagery

CENTRE OF CHAOS

Penrith punched holes in both of Brisbane’s edges, with Selwyn Cobbo’s move to fullback to cover for Walsh leaving back-rower Brendan Piakura all at sea attempting to defend Izack Tago at left centre.

Desperate to stem the haemorrhaging, Brisbane’s No. 1 centre Kotoni Staggs was moved from the right to the left in the second stanza, but he was helpless as a Brian To’o double in the space of four minutes continued the rampage.

Cobbo (133m) was one bright spot for the Broncos, making a 60-metre bust and throwing the last pass for Deine Mariner’s 56th-minute try in an honourable display at fullback.

“We didn’t handle it (losing Walsh) too well as a group,” Walters lamented.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with last year (grand-final loss). We got into some rhythm in the second half but it was too late by then.”