Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh has been pinged by the match review committee but can escape a ban for his shoulder charge on Murray Taulagi.
The 22-year-old was put on report in the second half for a shoulder charge on the Cowboys winger in Friday’s 26-16 win at Suncorp Stadium.
He has been hit with a grade-one offence which means he could be banned two matches if he challenged the charge but he will pay a $3000 fine to be free to play in Round 4.
In other judiciary news, Wests Tigers winger Sunia Turuva will cough up a $3000 fine with an early guilty plea rather than take a two-game ban after he was handed a Grade 1 Crusher Tackle offence for an incident involving Jack Bostock in the 30th minute of Saturday’s win at Kayo Stadium.
Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray was charged for a hip drop tackle on Cronulla veteran Siosifa Talakai during their loss at Shark Park but he will not be banned and cop a fine of $1000 with an early guilty plea.
Walsh made five errors, set up winger Jesse Arthars for a try with a glorious pass and landed a 65-metre 40/20 kick that turned the momentum Brisbane’s way after they had been camped on on their own line during a scoreless opening 20 minutes.
It was that defensive effort at the start that most impressed coach Michael Maguire despite another rocks and diamonds display overall.
“We had a strong defensive line and that comes from what Reece does out the back. There is 50/50 in the game – defence and attack – and I thought Reece was excellent defensively,” Maguire said.
“The other side of the game will come. You could see him rallying the boys around. You don’t defend like we did if you don’t have a fullback rallying his troops. I was pleased with that.”
Walsh made four errors the previous week in the loss to Canberra. Most of his errors against the Cowboys involve pushing a pass. He is possibly trying too hard but Maguire said he just needed to “keep at it”.
“I have had players like Reece who go through little periods in their careers and it helps define who you are. It makes you a better player,” Maguire said.
“He probably doesn’t feel that at the moment but one thing I do know is that he will be better for it when he keeps working his way through it. He has got a good supportive team around him. Reece will be right.”
Walsh does not let a mistake stop him from having a red-hot crack at the next play. He had 23 runs against the Cowboys for 137m, a sign that he did not go into his shell.
© AAP
