NRL makes call on Reece Walsh sanction as fans call out QLD fullback over ugly Origin scenes

Reece Walsh has avoided being charged by the NRL match review committee after the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night, after the Queensland fullback endured a rough night in the Maroons' loss. Walsh had his second-straight shocker in the Origin arena as NSW won 14-4 to break their 19-year drought in deciders at Suncorp.

Altogether Walsh had an Origin series to forget after he was knocked out of Game 1 after just seven minutes. He then failed to fire in the second and third games, and was put on report over an ugly incident in the decider.

Walsh led with his feet and collected Stephen Crichton in the head with his boot while the NSW centre was trying to score in the first half. The fullback was placed on report at the time, but wasn't charged when the match review committee handed down its findings on Thursday morning.

A suspension would have been diabolical for the Brisbane Broncos, who need their gun fullback on the park if they're going to mount a charge to the NRL finals. Under NRL judiciary rules, players are able to take fines for grade-two offences in State of Origin, but grade-three charges result in bans of at least two matches.

However the lack of sanction won't do much to lighten Walsh's mood. The 21-year-old was heartbroken after the game and could be seen in tears as he hugged his daughter Leila.

The fullback's performance didn't go down well with Queensland fans - and once it again it was his defence that caused the most angst. Walsh couldn't do much to prevent the Blues from scoring their first try through Bradman Best, but his effort on Mitchell Moses' try raised some eyebrows.

Moses strolled straight past Walsh after busting through Harry Grant and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's tackles, with Walsh failing to even lay a hand on Moses. The Queensland fullback appeared to slip as he attempted to change direction, but Maroons fans felt he should have done better.

Reporter Christian Nicolussi wrote on social media: "What has happened to Reece Walsh? Posed biggest threat to NSW Blues before Origin series - finished up one of the worst Maroons."

NRL hands down suspensions after State of Origin decider

Walsh may have escaped a ban, but 10 other players were charged by the NRL on Thursday. NSW players Cameron Murray and Haumole Olakau'atu were both hit with two-game suspensions for contrary conduct, after coming off the bench to be involved in an ugly fracas in the first half.

Murray wasn't on the field at the time the brawl spilled over the sideline, and ran a long way to get involved. Daly Cherry-Evans said he believed Murray should have been sent off, but referee Ashley Klein opted to sin-bin him instead.

And Olakau'atu - who wasn't part of the match-day 17 - was banished from the sideline to the coach's box after getting involved in the melee as well. Both NSW players have been hit with two-game bans, which will increase to three if they fight at the judiciary and are unsuccessful.

Kurt Capewell, Jeremiah Nanai, Brian To'o, Reuben Cotter, Hamiso Tabuai Fidow, Matt Burton, Felise Kaufusi and Payne Haas were all charged on Thursday for a range of offences, but have escaped with fines. The NRL traditionally hand down charges in the two hours after full-time of Origin matches, given the tight turnaround to the next round of the NRL. But the dramatic nature of Wednesday night's game prompted a marathon sitting for the match review committee - pushing any charges back until Thursday.

with AAP