Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam's manager responds amid NRL investigation into incident in Bali
The Brisbane Broncos have been rocked by more turmoil amid Kevin Walters' departure as coach.
The manager of Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam has spoken out after it emerged on Friday that the NRL is investigating an alleged incident involving the Brisbane Broncos players in Bali. The Broncos were rocked by more drama on Friday, just hours after the club announced the departure of coach Kevin Walters with immediate effect.
The NRL integrity unit has reportedly launched a probe into an alleged incident involving Walsh and Mam in which a third party's phone was said to have been damaged. The Broncos players are on holiday in Bali after they finished 12th and missed the NRL finals this year. According to reports, the NRL received a complaint about Walsh and Mam's behaviour, and the integrity unit is now investigating.
The complaint is said to be in relation to damage that was caused to a mobile phone. According to reports, a person attempted to take a selfie with Walsh when Mam took exception.
The Courier Mail is reporting that the Broncos are aware of the matter and were told the players allegedly reacted to being filmed during their holiday. The same report states the players replaced the damaged phone and paid for a new one.
But Walsh and Mam’s manager Nash Dawson has since claimed the damage to the phone was caused by accident. “The damaged phone was simply an accident within a heavily populated nightclub in Bali,” he said, according to the Courier Mail. “A person’s phone was dropped and damaged, to which that person has asked for the player to pay for the damages and the player has already paid it.”
Earlier this year, Walsh had taken to social media to implore fans to be more respectful when interacting with players. “If you’re over 10 years old and especially if you’re a grown adult and you don’t use your manners when asking for a photo, don’t be shook when you get a no,” the 22-year-old wrote on Instagram.
“We are people at the end of the day, do (not) just expect these things!! I love getting photos and chatting to everyone but if you just put a phone in my face and demand a photo I won’t wanna do it!! Please and thank you goes a long way! Have a great day.”
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The alleged incident comes at the worst possible time for the Broncos, who are on the hunt for a new head coach. The club announced on Thursday night that Walters would depart the role he held since 2021, after missing the finals in three out of four seasons in charge.
"I am really proud of the fact that when I arrived here the club wasn't in great shape. I feel that myself, along with a lot of other good staff and people here, have shaped the club," Walters said as he fronted the media on Friday.
"I'd like to thank the original owners of the club Barry, Paul, Steve and Gary, for initially starting the club. Probably the proudest moment was last year's grand final, my son and all my family in attendance. I want to thank my family. They've been really terrific to me, and just want to thank them."
CEO Dave Donaghy said: "The reality is for us that we acknowledge as an organisation, as a club, we can be better. We can do better. Kev wears his heart on his sleeve, and he's done an incredible job over the past four years, but as we've had time to digest and process the season, look at plans moving forward, both of us have come to that acceptance that it was time to part ways, and Kev's time as head coach had concluded."
