Walsh issues Maroons statement: Four things learnt in Broncos' comeback
Cronulla implode after stars lay the platform
Should anything happen to Reece Robson between now and the State of Origin series decider, Blayke Brailey has issued a timely reminder to Blues coach Laurie Daley of his credentials.
The Cronulla hooker was a clear standout for his side, constantly probing around the ruck to finish with 50 metres and a linebreak, while scoring a try with Katoa still in the sin bin.
He added 52 tackles to his afternoon, but was left woefully unsupported for the final half hour as his forward pack were overrun.
Braydon Trindall got the Sharks well ahead with a clinical first half, finishing try assists for Sifa Talakai and Nicho Hynes, and three linebreak assists.
But they were left to rue their own ill-discipline, making 12 errors to Brisbane's five, while conceding seven penalties to their rival's four.
The bruising defence that carried them through the first half abandoned them, as they missed 35 tackles while coming up with 23 ineffective ones, to help the Broncos out of trouble time and time again.
Can Cobbo regain his place in this side?
Selwyn Cobbo's demotion from the Broncos line-up has raised plenty of questions regarding his future at Red Hill, and the exploits of Josiah Karapani will keep his future in limbo.
After Cobbo produced a solid try-scoring display for Wynnum Manly in the Queensland Cup, Karapani scored his second double in as many Brisbane appearances, while running for two linebreaks and 123 metres.
In contrast, Cobbo's respectable outing in reserve grade was still surpassed by fellow axed star Deine Mariner, who ran for 186 metres while scoring a try and laying two try assists.
Coach Michael Maguire has insisted Cobbo still has a future in Brisbane, despite remaining contractless beyond 2025.
He will need chances in the top grade to prove he is still the player who garnered six caps for Queensland, but he appears to be locked in a waiting game for the moment.
Willison eases Haas burden
Despite producing a Herculean effort for New South Wales this week, all while nursing a quad complaint, Payne Haas continued to show the rugby league world what a force of nature he is.
But the superstar prop needed allies, and Xavier Willison thrust his hand up for a greater role.
While Haas was enormous – finishing with 186 metres and nine tackle busts – Willison shouldered a huge burden through the middle as Pat Carrigan's minutes were reduced following his own Origin efforts.
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Billy Slater urged to make Reece Walsh call after Broncos fullback stars in comeback win
Reece Walsh has put Maroons coach Billy Slater on notice after a scintillating performance on Sunday, leading the Broncos to a stunning 34-28 comeback win over Cronulla. The 22-year-old, renowned for his flashy style, produced some moments of magic as well as some grit and toughness as the Broncos turned around a 28-12 deficit to get their season back on track. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Walsh finished with two try assists, three linebreak assists, a linebreak, five tackle busts and 178m in a performance sure to have got Slater's attention. 'He's a competitor, and I guess we all expect Reecey to come up with those things, just with what he's able to do,' Michael Maguire said after the Broncos' win on Sunday. 'He just keeps competing.' And with Slater looking forward to Game 3, many have suggested he may axe struggling fullback Kalyn Ponga and either look to Walsh or switch Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback. In Game 1, the Knights superstar had 21 runs for 163 metres, and it was even more dire in Game 2 as he registered just eight runs for 77 metres, as well as missing four tackles and making two errors. His Game 2 horror show led former Broncos and Warriors player Denan Kemp to suggest Slater should drop him for the Origin decider. 'He dropped three bombs. He got bounced off by Cleary and got lucky there was an obstruction,' Kemp said on the Bloke in a Bar podcast on Thursday 'I think Billy has to have a real hard look at that fullback position. I think KP (Ponga) is just out of form. 'It's tough but if you've got that many errors, it's just a real question we (Queensland) have to ask ourselves. We need someone who's bringing energy around the ruck, making their catches and tackles. It's definitely a question that I think Billy should be considering because we can't afford to go into Game 3 and have that many dropped balls. We'll lose by 30-plus.' And after Sunday's incredible performance, Slater appears to have been handed the perfect solution to his problem in the form of Walsh. The fullback has played five Origin games and if not being out with a knee injury early in the season, many believe he would have been Slater's preferred No.1. Walsh's knee is still far from right with the fullback seen limping on several occasions during the win. However, the 22-year-old says it is getting better each week. 'It's good, I was trying to hide it (laughs),' Walsh said of his knee. 'It's a work in progress. I am still trying to get used to the feel of it.' And after an incredible showing on Sunday fans have called for Slater to pick him at fullback for the State of Origin decider, declaring even a one-legged Walsh is their best chance at reclaiming the Origin shield. 'I know he's not 100% but there's a case for Reece Walsh playing FB for QLD, moving Ponga to 14?' one fan wrote. 'Surely Reece Walsh has to be picked for Origin III. A one-legged Walsh is better than Ponga,' another said. 'Queensland can't go without Reece Walsh in SOO III when he's in this sort of form. It's irresistible. Just got to decide whether Kalyn Ponga can be afforded on the bench alongside Kurt Mann and two other forwards,' a third added. While a fourth said: 'Walsh is back!'. NSW will have a home-ground advantage for the series decider, which will take place at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Wednesday, July 9.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Eels star Cherrington to miss start of NRLW season
Kennedy Cherrington will miss at least the first three weeks of the NRLW season with the knee injury she suffered in the third State of Origin match. She could be joined on the sidelines by Parramatta captain Mahalia Murphy, who is racing to recover from a minor hamstring injury in time for the season opener against Cronulla. Parramatta had initially hoped NSW forward Cherrington may recover from her posterior cruciate ligament injury in time for the opener on July 3. But she is now tracking to miss up to a third of the regular season with the injury that prevented her from playing the second half of NSW's game-three loss in Newcastle last month. It's a blow for Cherrington, who missed the end of last season with a separate knee issue. "It's tough for Kennedy but it'll be good to get her for the back half of the season," said coach Steve Georgallis. "We're hoping she'll be back for round four or round five at the latest." Eels captain for a second straight season, Murphy is hoping to return from a hamstring injury in time to face the Sharks. "Mahalia's just got a little niggle," Georgallis said. "We're hoping she should be back for round one but if we feel like she's not ready then we're not going to push her." The news is less rosy for Eels forward Boss Kapua, who fractured her fibula in an opposed session and will miss the opening weeks of the competition. "She's tough, she walked off the field and she just said, 'I'm a bit sore here'," Georgallis said. "We were glad it wasn't syndesmosis because syndesmosis can be like 12 (weeks), three months. She'll be three or four weeks. She might even be back before Kennedy." Murphy said she was relishing the chance to start the season against Cronulla, whose narrow win over Parramatta ended up being the difference in the sides' finals fates last year. The Eels lost the round-two match-up by two points, their closest loss of the campaign, then found themselves beaten to the final top-four spot by the Sharks. "It's personal," Murphy said. "I know the girls can definitely beat them. We should've beaten them last year. We're focusing on round one." Kennedy Cherrington will miss at least the first three weeks of the NRLW season with the knee injury she suffered in the third State of Origin match. She could be joined on the sidelines by Parramatta captain Mahalia Murphy, who is racing to recover from a minor hamstring injury in time for the season opener against Cronulla. Parramatta had initially hoped NSW forward Cherrington may recover from her posterior cruciate ligament injury in time for the opener on July 3. But she is now tracking to miss up to a third of the regular season with the injury that prevented her from playing the second half of NSW's game-three loss in Newcastle last month. It's a blow for Cherrington, who missed the end of last season with a separate knee issue. "It's tough for Kennedy but it'll be good to get her for the back half of the season," said coach Steve Georgallis. "We're hoping she'll be back for round four or round five at the latest." Eels captain for a second straight season, Murphy is hoping to return from a hamstring injury in time to face the Sharks. "Mahalia's just got a little niggle," Georgallis said. "We're hoping she should be back for round one but if we feel like she's not ready then we're not going to push her." The news is less rosy for Eels forward Boss Kapua, who fractured her fibula in an opposed session and will miss the opening weeks of the competition. "She's tough, she walked off the field and she just said, 'I'm a bit sore here'," Georgallis said. "We were glad it wasn't syndesmosis because syndesmosis can be like 12 (weeks), three months. She'll be three or four weeks. She might even be back before Kennedy." Murphy said she was relishing the chance to start the season against Cronulla, whose narrow win over Parramatta ended up being the difference in the sides' finals fates last year. The Eels lost the round-two match-up by two points, their closest loss of the campaign, then found themselves beaten to the final top-four spot by the Sharks. "It's personal," Murphy said. "I know the girls can definitely beat them. We should've beaten them last year. We're focusing on round one." Kennedy Cherrington will miss at least the first three weeks of the NRLW season with the knee injury she suffered in the third State of Origin match. She could be joined on the sidelines by Parramatta captain Mahalia Murphy, who is racing to recover from a minor hamstring injury in time for the season opener against Cronulla. Parramatta had initially hoped NSW forward Cherrington may recover from her posterior cruciate ligament injury in time for the opener on July 3. But she is now tracking to miss up to a third of the regular season with the injury that prevented her from playing the second half of NSW's game-three loss in Newcastle last month. It's a blow for Cherrington, who missed the end of last season with a separate knee issue. "It's tough for Kennedy but it'll be good to get her for the back half of the season," said coach Steve Georgallis. "We're hoping she'll be back for round four or round five at the latest." Eels captain for a second straight season, Murphy is hoping to return from a hamstring injury in time to face the Sharks. "Mahalia's just got a little niggle," Georgallis said. "We're hoping she should be back for round one but if we feel like she's not ready then we're not going to push her." The news is less rosy for Eels forward Boss Kapua, who fractured her fibula in an opposed session and will miss the opening weeks of the competition. "She's tough, she walked off the field and she just said, 'I'm a bit sore here'," Georgallis said. "We were glad it wasn't syndesmosis because syndesmosis can be like 12 (weeks), three months. She'll be three or four weeks. She might even be back before Kennedy." Murphy said she was relishing the chance to start the season against Cronulla, whose narrow win over Parramatta ended up being the difference in the sides' finals fates last year. The Eels lost the round-two match-up by two points, their closest loss of the campaign, then found themselves beaten to the final top-four spot by the Sharks. "It's personal," Murphy said. "I know the girls can definitely beat them. We should've beaten them last year. We're focusing on round one."
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Brisbane storm home to bite Sharks, with Walsh on fire
Brisbane have stormed home from a 16-point deficit to beat a wasteful Cronulla 34-28, with fullback Reece Walsh igniting the comeback. When Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey darted over from dummy half to secure a 28-12 lead in the 56th minute, the Broncos appeared cooked in front of 39,042 fans at Suncorp Stadium. But the home side scored four tries in 18 minutes, with Walsh setting up two, to usurp the Sharks in fifth position. "I guess we expect Reece to come up with those things. He just keeps competing," Broncos coach Michael Maguire said. "The captain (Adam Reynolds) spoke to them at halftime and sharpened them up a bit. "It was pleasing that with their backs against the wall ... to fight the way they did and get the win at the end." Sharks forward Teig Wilton went to hospital in the first half after suffering blurred vision from an eye injury, before winger Sione Katoa had a brain explosion on the cusp of halftime. He was sin-binned for a ridiculous touch on Ezra Mam when he was laying in the ruck. The Broncos were too daft to make the most of it. Instead Brailey darted over from close range and the result appeared secured, but the Sharks then fell apart. Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo was ruled to have knocked on and Walsh made the Sharks pay with a bullet pass to centre Gehamat Shibasaki. Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall kicked out on the full and Broncos winger Josiah Karapani stormed in despite Sharks half Nicho Hynes falling over and claiming an obstruction. Skipper Adam Reynolds then darted and weaved in traffic and threw a basketball-style pass for Karapani to complete his double in as many weeks. Reynolds landed the conversion from the sideline for a 30-28 lead. When Walsh carved through Hynes to set up Shibasaki for his second, it was all over. "Our discipline to stick to our plan and defence has been poor for weeks. Even when we were leading, you could see signs we were hanging on," Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said. "I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. We need to do something about it. We've got to address our discipline." The first half was a bizarre affair, with the Sharks leading 22-12 at the break. Brisbane's kicking game and line speed were poor, with fullback Walsh giving up two seven-tackle sets. The Sharks attacked with freedom, with halves Trindall and Hynes playing lead roles. Trindall laid on the pass for centre Siosifa Talakai to score. He was at it again to put Wilton through a gaping hole, and fullback William Kennedy finished it off for a 10-0 lead. The Sharks opened the scoring through Talakai after Broncos winger Jesse Arthars spilt a bomb. Kennedy scored his second with a classic after Hynes sent second-rower Briton Nikora on his merry way. Trindall did the same for Hynes to stroll through for a 22-6 lead after Broncos hooker Cory Paix darted over from dummy-half for the softest of tries. Mam scored on the cusp of halftime to keep the home side in it. Brisbane have stormed home from a 16-point deficit to beat a wasteful Cronulla 34-28, with fullback Reece Walsh igniting the comeback. When Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey darted over from dummy half to secure a 28-12 lead in the 56th minute, the Broncos appeared cooked in front of 39,042 fans at Suncorp Stadium. But the home side scored four tries in 18 minutes, with Walsh setting up two, to usurp the Sharks in fifth position. "I guess we expect Reece to come up with those things. He just keeps competing," Broncos coach Michael Maguire said. "The captain (Adam Reynolds) spoke to them at halftime and sharpened them up a bit. "It was pleasing that with their backs against the wall ... to fight the way they did and get the win at the end." Sharks forward Teig Wilton went to hospital in the first half after suffering blurred vision from an eye injury, before winger Sione Katoa had a brain explosion on the cusp of halftime. He was sin-binned for a ridiculous touch on Ezra Mam when he was laying in the ruck. The Broncos were too daft to make the most of it. Instead Brailey darted over from close range and the result appeared secured, but the Sharks then fell apart. Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo was ruled to have knocked on and Walsh made the Sharks pay with a bullet pass to centre Gehamat Shibasaki. Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall kicked out on the full and Broncos winger Josiah Karapani stormed in despite Sharks half Nicho Hynes falling over and claiming an obstruction. Skipper Adam Reynolds then darted and weaved in traffic and threw a basketball-style pass for Karapani to complete his double in as many weeks. Reynolds landed the conversion from the sideline for a 30-28 lead. When Walsh carved through Hynes to set up Shibasaki for his second, it was all over. "Our discipline to stick to our plan and defence has been poor for weeks. Even when we were leading, you could see signs we were hanging on," Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said. "I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. We need to do something about it. We've got to address our discipline." The first half was a bizarre affair, with the Sharks leading 22-12 at the break. Brisbane's kicking game and line speed were poor, with fullback Walsh giving up two seven-tackle sets. The Sharks attacked with freedom, with halves Trindall and Hynes playing lead roles. Trindall laid on the pass for centre Siosifa Talakai to score. He was at it again to put Wilton through a gaping hole, and fullback William Kennedy finished it off for a 10-0 lead. The Sharks opened the scoring through Talakai after Broncos winger Jesse Arthars spilt a bomb. Kennedy scored his second with a classic after Hynes sent second-rower Briton Nikora on his merry way. Trindall did the same for Hynes to stroll through for a 22-6 lead after Broncos hooker Cory Paix darted over from dummy-half for the softest of tries. Mam scored on the cusp of halftime to keep the home side in it. Brisbane have stormed home from a 16-point deficit to beat a wasteful Cronulla 34-28, with fullback Reece Walsh igniting the comeback. When Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey darted over from dummy half to secure a 28-12 lead in the 56th minute, the Broncos appeared cooked in front of 39,042 fans at Suncorp Stadium. But the home side scored four tries in 18 minutes, with Walsh setting up two, to usurp the Sharks in fifth position. "I guess we expect Reece to come up with those things. He just keeps competing," Broncos coach Michael Maguire said. "The captain (Adam Reynolds) spoke to them at halftime and sharpened them up a bit. "It was pleasing that with their backs against the wall ... to fight the way they did and get the win at the end." Sharks forward Teig Wilton went to hospital in the first half after suffering blurred vision from an eye injury, before winger Sione Katoa had a brain explosion on the cusp of halftime. He was sin-binned for a ridiculous touch on Ezra Mam when he was laying in the ruck. The Broncos were too daft to make the most of it. Instead Brailey darted over from close range and the result appeared secured, but the Sharks then fell apart. Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo was ruled to have knocked on and Walsh made the Sharks pay with a bullet pass to centre Gehamat Shibasaki. Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall kicked out on the full and Broncos winger Josiah Karapani stormed in despite Sharks half Nicho Hynes falling over and claiming an obstruction. Skipper Adam Reynolds then darted and weaved in traffic and threw a basketball-style pass for Karapani to complete his double in as many weeks. Reynolds landed the conversion from the sideline for a 30-28 lead. When Walsh carved through Hynes to set up Shibasaki for his second, it was all over. "Our discipline to stick to our plan and defence has been poor for weeks. Even when we were leading, you could see signs we were hanging on," Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said. "I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. We need to do something about it. We've got to address our discipline." The first half was a bizarre affair, with the Sharks leading 22-12 at the break. Brisbane's kicking game and line speed were poor, with fullback Walsh giving up two seven-tackle sets. The Sharks attacked with freedom, with halves Trindall and Hynes playing lead roles. Trindall laid on the pass for centre Siosifa Talakai to score. He was at it again to put Wilton through a gaping hole, and fullback William Kennedy finished it off for a 10-0 lead. The Sharks opened the scoring through Talakai after Broncos winger Jesse Arthars spilt a bomb. Kennedy scored his second with a classic after Hynes sent second-rower Briton Nikora on his merry way. Trindall did the same for Hynes to stroll through for a 22-6 lead after Broncos hooker Cory Paix darted over from dummy-half for the softest of tries. Mam scored on the cusp of halftime to keep the home side in it.
