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Reece Walsh 'kept away' amid new revelation Broncos fullback was subject of club probe

The Broncos fullback's blow up with Corey Oates was the subject of an in-house investigation.

adam lucius
Contributor
·2-min read

Brisbane superstar Reece Walsh has been shielded from the media as it revealed his on-field blow-up with teammate Corey Oates was the subject of an in-house investigation. Ahead of the Broncos' clash with Queensland rivals the Cowboys on Saturday night, Brisbane coach Kevin Walters said he felt obliged to speak to both players to ensure major fractures did not occur.

Walsh sprayed Oates after a play broke down during the Broncos' loss to Gold Coast last weekend, ensuring another week of unwanted headlines from a season fast turning into a nightmare. Ten months after almost ending the club's long premiership drought – only to lose the grand final to Penrith in heart-breaking circumstances – Walters' men will almost certainly miss the top eight following a dramatic slide.

They have lost eight of their last nine games and the Walsh-Oates spat only underlined the tension and pressure the club is under. Walsh was pulled from media duties this week, so his side of the story is yet to be told.

Reece Walsh's blow up with Corey Oates was the subject of an in-house investigation. Image: AAP
Reece Walsh's blow up with Corey Oates was the subject of an in-house investigation. Image: AAP

But Walters said of the drama: "We've certainly addressed that as a club and as individuals. "We've moved on from that."

Oates, who has been dropped from the team to play North Queensland, also insisted there was no lingering animosity, telling KISS FM: "He (Walsh) was just angry because I ended up running the wrong line. "He's so passionate and cares so much. He's just so emotional.

"After the game he came to me and said sorry. I said 'mate, we are all good'. I said 'I ran the wrong line, you threw a hard pass…it doesn’t matter, mate'. We’re fine."

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 03: Reece Walsh of the Broncos looks dejected during the round 22 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium, on August 03, 2024, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
The Broncos have lost eight of their past nine games. Image: Getty

The Walsh drama is not the only fire Walters had to put out this week. He was also forced to defend his training methods after Tristan Sailor and Jesse Arthars conceded standards needed to lift.

The coach was blindsided by the accusation. "I'm not sure where those comments came from. We have trained well and we're very much looking forward to the (Cowboys) game," Walters said.

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"We've put that (last weekend's loss) in the rear vision mirror." Walters has made the finals in only one of his three years in charge and is set to miss out again this season.

He was granted a contract extension off the back of last year's successful run, taking him through to the end of 2026. But the Broncos will need a fast start to their 2025 campaign to remove the mounting pressure on Walters as he looks to end the club's 18-year wait for another premiership.