Heated Reece Walsh-Kotoni Staggs on-field confrontation sparks Broncos against Titans

Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has backed Reece Walsh over his explosive verbal bust-up with Kotoni Staggs and says it’s the competitive fire underpinning the Broncos’ title assault.

Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has backed Reece Walsh over his explosive verbal bust-up with Kotoni Staggs and says it’s the competitive fire underpinning the Broncos’ title assault this season.

The Broncos’ 26-14 derby disposal of the Titans on Sunday night had a powderkeg moment when Walsh and Staggs clashed in a war of words just before halftime at Cbus Super Stadium.

Walsh gave Staggs, a member of Brisbane’s senior leadership group, a dressing down for dropping his long ball with a potential try looming.

Staggs initially raised his hand to calm the situation, but when Walsh continued his verbal spray, the strike weapon lost his cool, death-staring the fullback and pointing at him as he hit back with some choice words of his own.

Tensions spilled over into the dressing room with cameras capturing Walsh still in an animated mood, prompting Fox League analyst Bryan Fletcher to add: “This is the way Reece plays. He is high emotion.”

It took just three minutes for the pair to smoke the peace pipe, combining superbly as Walsh released Staggs before the centre turned the ball inside for the fullback to finish off a 65-metre movement and give Brisbane a winning 20-2 lead.

It’s not the first time Walsh has lost control on the field.

Two years ago, he was suspended for abusing referee Chris Butler, later claiming he was instead swearing at teammate Pat Carrigan, who had urged Walsh to “calm your f***ing brain”.

But Maguire had no issue with the sight of Walsh and Staggs arguing, saying it’s a sign of the superstar fullback’s win-at-all-costs attitude in his quest to break Brisbane’s 19-year premiership drought.

“’Reecey’ loves his footy and is continually striving to be the best like all the boys,” Maguire said.

“That’s the perfection we’re chasing.

“Whether or not it’s trying to get the ball early to Kotoni or not, Reecey does wear his heart on his sleeve and that’s why we love him.

“At times he will execute something and at other times he will be working out how he gets it done.

Maguire has backed Reece Walsh’s competitive fire. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“As long as Reece keeps competing, the boys love playing with him.”

It was later claimed the pair clashed because Brisbane’s game plan was to get clean and early ball to exploit the tackle-busting brilliance of Staggs.

Walsh felt he did just that, but was left seeing red when he threw an accurate long ball and Staggs dropped it cold.

Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds said it was not uncommon for teammates to express a difference of opinion in the emotive heat of battle.

“We are trying to be perfect out there,” he said.

“It won’t always go to plan.

“But we are adults, we talk about the situation when it happens and sure enough they (Walsh and Staggs) fixed it up and scored a long-range try.

“They are working hard. It’s good to have that feedback on the field.”

When the dust settled, the Broncos savoured a fifth consecutive victory and they remain within striking distance of the top four with a 10-6 record, two wins behind the fourth-placed Warriors.

Kotoni Staggs and Reece Walsh share a tight bond. Picture: Lachie Millard

The Broncos have a bye this week before consecutive Friday night clashes against the lowly Eels and Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium.

In the 27-year history of the NRL, no team has won the premiership from outside the top four and while Maguire is aware of that, the Broncos coach is confident his troops can match it with any title contender.

“That’s obviously a stat, but we just have to keep doing what we’re doing,” Maguire said.

“We were challenged about six weeks ago, but the one thing I have seen is the hard work is starting to get rewards now.

“’Reyno’ and I have been part of a club prior (Souths’ premiership win in 2014) that’s gotten the same thing when they worked hard.

“I was really pleased, we will continually grow now.”

MATCH REPORT: BRONCOS SURVIVE TITANS SURGE

Brisbane’s playmaking Dream Team gave Des Hasler nightmares after Reece Walsh and Ben Hunt kept the Broncos’ top-four hopes alive with a 26-14 derby disposal of the Titans on Sunday night.

The Broncos overcame a scrappy start with three tries in a nine-minute blitz to bury the lowly Titans as Walsh, Hunt, Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds roadtested their ‘Super Spine’ at Cbus Super Stadium.

This wasn’t Brisbane’s finest display - their execution was generally poor - but the Broncos simply had too much class for a last-placed Titans side hurtling toward their third wooden spoon in 14 years.

With Walsh in the mood, the Broncos led 14-2 at halftime, 20-2 after 43 minutes and withstood a two-try Jojo Fifita fightback to post their fifth straight victory and stay two wins adrift of the fourth-placed Warriors with a 10-6 record.

“It’s always good to win ugly,” Broncos skipper Reynolds said. “The good teams find a way to win.”

HOOKING GOOD

After 18 frustrating rounds, Brisbane coach Michael Maguire finally got the chance to deploy Hunt at hooker in his return from a hamstring injury to team with Walsh, Mam and Reynolds.

Their maiden union was largely clunky, but Hunt’s bone-rattling shot on Jaimin Jolliffe, which forced the ball free in the 18th minute, was evidence of his potential around the rucks.

And let’s not forget the ‘Fifth Beatle’ Billy Walters, the unheralded super sub who was Brisbane’s match-winner yet again.

With Brisbane teetering after two Titans tries in nine minutes whittled the deficit to 20-14, Walters produced a sublime show-and-go to cross 18 minutes from time and break the Coast’s hearts.

“I was really pleased,” Maguire said of his spine. “’Hunty’ hasn’t played nine for a while but he is a true pro and he can control a game, so he is only going to improve.”

Billy Walters scored the match-winning try. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

DES MAN WALKING

The Titans now have the power to sack Hasler.

A clause in Hasler’s contract states the Gold Coast can sever ties with the coach if the Titans can no longer mathematically make the top eight and that’s now a grim reality.

Not even eight straight wins will clinch a finals berth for the Titans. Gold Coast bosses must decide in the coming days whether to formally end this Des-aster, but the coach is defiant.

“I’ve only been at it 18 months,” Hasler said. “I am one of the most competitive people you can come across. It’s not something I am enjoying, particularly when I know what’s in the four walls.”

REECE’S RAGE

Brisbane’s sloppy first-half boiled over when Walsh and centre teammate Kotoni Staggs had a heated verbal altercation seconds before the halftime break.

Walsh was visibly angry at Staggs spilling a long ball and took his frustration out on the centre, who clearly looked annoyed, death-staring the fullback as he hit back with some choice words of his own.

Three minutes after the break, the duo smoked the peace pipe. Walsh released Staggs and the centre, superb with 206 metres, streaked away before drawing the Titans’ last man for ‘Reece Lightning’ to finish off a 65-metre movement for 20-2.

“We are adults,” Reynolds said of the Walsh-Staggs clash. “Sure enough they fixed it up and scored a long range try. It’s good to have that feedback on the field.”

Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs exchange words.

BIG BEN’S BEAUTY

The absence of starting props Payne Haas and Corey Jensen gave North Sydney recruit Ben Talty another chance and he took it.

The 26-year-old made his NRL debut last week and he capped a fine second game when he scored Brisbane’s opening try in the 34th minute to break a 2-all deadlock.

The only downside was the latest concussion blow for boom back-rower Brendan Piakura, who failed his HIA after smashing face-first into the turf attempting to score in the 12th minute.

Originally published as Heated Reece Walsh-Kotoni Staggs on-field confrontation sparks Broncos against Titans