NRL 2024: Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy calls for NRL to crackdown on Reece Walsh treatment with tougher suspensions

Broncos boss Dave Donaghy has rallied for tougher sanctions for high shots in light of Reece Walsh’s latest attack, calling for the NRL to ramp up suspensions to protect the game’s biggest players.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 05: Reece Walsh of the Maroons is attended to by medical staff after been tackled by Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i of the Blues during game one of the 2024 Men's State of Origin Series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons at Accor Stadium on June 05, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Broncos boss Dave Donaghy has taken aim at the NRL over the treatment of Reece Walsh and called for tougher suspensions to prevent the code’s biggest stars being bashed out of the game.

Donaghy revealed he personally contacted NRL CEO Andrew Abdo in March after Penrith’s Taylan May escaped a charge for the sickening high-speed collision which left Walsh with a facial fracture.

Now the Broncos have had a gutful after another “horrible” attack on their star fullback.

Walsh was left heavily concussed in Origin I, leading to NSW debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s send off – and subsequent four-match ban – for a high shot that has sidelined the Maroons ace for two Broncos matches.

Walsh missed Brisbane’s 22-12 loss to Cronulla on Saturday night and will also be forced to sit out this Friday’s away clash against South Sydney as the Broncos nurse their most lethal attacker back to full health.

Having already spoken to Abdo and NRL football boss Graham Annesley, Donaghy fears his pleas are falling on deaf ears and wants an end-of-season summit to beef-up sanctions for high shots.

Reece Walsh is treated after being wiped out by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in Origin I. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“We need to draw a line in the sand as a game,” Donaghy told ABC radio as the Broncos crashed to the Sharks without Walsh.

“There has been a sanction (for Suaalii) and the ref handled it well on the night, but if I draw back to earlier in the season with the incident involving Taylan May on Reece … there was no charge from that.

“I expressed my disappointment to the CEO (Abdo) and head of football (Annesley) at the time and it (an attack on Walsh) has happened again.

“I thought like everyone that it (the Suaalii incident) was a horrible tackle, you can’t sugar-coat it.

“I understand Joseph is a terrific young man and these things can happen, but the onus is on the defender and the duty of care is on him.

“It’s a challenge to not have Reece for a few weeks and he will soon go back into Origin camp … it’s something that will continue to be spoken about in the league and become more relevant off the back of this.

“(Players like Walsh) are box office and that’s why people come to the game and part with their hard earned, they want to see their stars on the field – not off it.

“We need to do more to protect the players, there’s powers-that-be and committees that look after player wellbeing, so the ball is in their court to step it up and protect them at all costs.

Dave Donaghy is rallying for the NRL to do more to protect its ‘box office’ players. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“We need to look at the length of the sanctions.

“We need to reach a position where our players are protected on the biggest stages.”

So far this season, Walsh will have missed four games for the Broncos because of heavy attacks on him, counting this week’s upcoming showdown with the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium.

The Maroons team for Origin II will be named on Monday week, meaning Walsh will go into Camp Maroon for Game Two on June 26 not having played since the Suaalii saga.

The Broncos were livid that May was not charged by the NRL match-review committee over his collision with Walsh and Donaghy challenged Abdo and Annesley to crack down on reckless and dangerous tackles.

“The point is it needs to be a big enough deterrent for (illegal) hits not to happen,” Donaghy said.

Reece Walsh shows the after-effects of a collision with Penrith’s Taylan May earlier this season. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

“There was an edict sent out from the NRL on outside defenders rushing in and if you don’t get it right, you face the consequences.

“My personal view is I don’t think it (Suaalii’s four-match ban) was enough, but at the same time I look at it from a club perspective, the Roosters have let a player out for Origin duty and now they don’t have him for a length of time.

“It’s between the clubs and the NRL and the committees that establish the rules to ensure our best players are on the field, week in, week out.

“If the head is sacrosanct, it’s sacrosanct, so we need the levels of sanction in place if these situations do arise.

“I don’t have all the answers myself, but from our perspective at the Broncos, I want to ensure our players are protected and our fans get to see the best players week in, week out.

“Players do get targeted – but don’t hit them in the head.”