"Broncos PR in overdrive": Raiders hit back at Walsh abuse claims

The Brisbane Broncos have been accused of spinning the PR machine regarding claims Reece Walsh was subjected to unacceptable verbal abuse as he left the field after being sin-binned.

About 12 minutes into the second half, Walsh and Hudson Young were dismissed for 10 minutes each by referee Ashley Klein after the pair were engaged in a heated exchange which resulted in the former headbutting the latter.

Walsh has since been hit with a fine by the NRL but will not be banned for the preliminary final.

As he left the field, Walsh was seen making gestures and flipping the bird at Raiders fans, with reports circulating that his reaction was a result of someone mentioning his daughter.

The supposition was immediately shot down by the Raiders.

“I was standing next to the tunnel,” club CEO Don Furner said.

“You couldn’t hear the person next to you let alone someone in the stands given it was that loud. I couldn’t care less but it looks to me like the Broncos’ PR department has gone into overdrive.”

Whatever was or was not said, Walsh has been defended by Maroons coach Billy Slater.

“I know Reece personally and I know how much he cops,’ Slater told Channel 9.

“To be fair, when you pay your $20 ticket to come into a footy game, it doesn’t give you the right to abuse people. I wasn’t aware of that.

“It’s the first time I have heard of that sort of content being delivered towards Reece. Seriously, why would you say stuff like that.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve, and it is an emotional game, he loves the game. He probably shouldn’t have done what he did but that’s the way it goes.”

When Walsh returned from the sin bin, he produced 15 of the best minutes Ennis has seen of an individual player.

A Ben Hunt field goal ensured the Brisbane Broncos will host a preliminary final at Suncorp in two weeks’ time after a resounding 29-28 win.