NRL 2024: Broncos, Reece Walsh have every right to question Taylan May decision, Brent Read

The NRL is constantly tightening its rules and punishing contact with the head. So why was Taylan May not charged? The Broncos and Reece Walsh have every right to ask what happened to protecting the head, writes Brent Read.

Broncos, Reece Walsh have every right to question Taylan May decision, Brent Read

Reece Walsh was on the highway somewhere between Sydney and Brisbane on Friday afternoon – no doubt icing his fractured face – when match review commissioner Luke Patten did his best to explain why Penrith centre Taylan May will be free to play next week.

Patten insisted the match review committee looked at the head clash between Walsh and May on Thursday night in great detail.

He said that unlike previous incidents – the most noteworthy involving Cronulla captain Dale Finucane two years ago when he was suspended for two matches after a head clash gone wrong – May hadn’t led with his shoulder or head.

Taylan May had two feet off the ground when he collided with Reece Walsh. Credit: Supplied.

He claimed that both players left the ground as they braced for contact and May’s actions were considered neither careless or reckless.

As a result of that decision, it is understood Walsh’s fractured cheekbone wasn’t taken into account by the match review committee.

All this just heaped more misery on Walsh as he made the 11-hour drive from Sydney in the back of the Broncos bus, his teammates having flown home earlier by plane.

No-one suggests the incident was anything but an accident.

May didn’t go out of his way to shatter Walsh’s face.

But bust it he did and the Broncos are rightly asking why the NRL opted not to sanction a rival player for an incident that has sidelined their best for up to six weeks.

Brisbane Broncos star Reece Walsh is facing at least four weeks on the sidelines after suffering a facial fracture in Thursday night’s grand final rematch loss to Penrith. Photo: Instagram.

There are plenty who agree with the NRL. This columnist ran a poll online while the game was still going and 60 per cent suggested no action should be taken against May. The Daily Telegraph had similar results in a poll.

Touchy topic re Taylan May tackle but a point I think is being missed - part of encouraging May to target lower is to protect May himself. It’s safer for him to target the torso (ie not too high, not too low). Obviously Walsh came off 2nd best here but May endangering himself too

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 22, 2024

That’s cold comfort for Walsh and the Broncos.

In the English Super League, there is every chance it would have resulted in a send off. Rugby union the same.

Rugby league fans have laughed at some of the red cards handed out in those sports but more than a few are now asking why the NRL hasn’t done the same.

Concussion has become one of the biggest issues in contact sport. The head, we are told, is sacrosanct.

The number of former players suffering from the debilitating effects of their career grow by the day. Litigation is around every corner.

The NRL is constantly tightening its rules and punishing contact with the head. A stray arm catches someone and a charge invariably follows from the match review committee. Why should an errant head be any different?

Taylan May was put on report and penalised for foul play, but not sin-binned, over his role in an 'accidental' head clash with Reece Walsh. Picture: NRL Imagery

May flew out of the line to try to shut down Walsh.

Walsh was too quick for him and had already passed the ball when May made contact. May arrived late – by the barest of margins – and had lost control at that point.

He did his best to avoid the contact but in doing so, he clashed heads with a defenceless Walsh.

It had all the hallmarks of a reckless tackle. The only difference was May caught Walsh with his head rather than his shoulder or arm.

The end result is the same. The damage is arguably worse.

One of the biggest stars in rugby league won’t be on the field for more than a month and the Broncos must find a way to replace a player they are about to sign to a contract extension worth $1.2 million a season.

It’s an impossible task and the galling thing is it could have been easily avoided. No wonder Walsh and the Broncos are asking what happened to protecting the head.