Reece Walsh cops heavy fine, escapes ban for ugly high shot as Kangaroos fate confirmed
Updated . First published
Reece Walsh's chance at a Kangaroos debut has been given a significant boost after he escaped a ban for an ugly shot on Xavier Coates.
The Melbourne Storm winger was swerving through a hole in Brisbane's defence to surge towards the in-goal during a chaotic first half of Sunday's grand final when he was met by a chasing Adam Reynolds, with Walsh coming in to support his teammate.
As the gun fullback bent at the knees he nailed Coates in the head with his shoulder.
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"Oh, that's a real high shot from Reece Walsh," Andrew Johns said on Nine.
Coates was falling to the turf due to the pressure of Reynolds when the incident occurred, but the nasty shot did not go unnoticed by referee Grant Atkins.
"We've seen all year that this is a sin bin," Johns continued.
Reece Walsh collects Xavier Coates high. Nine
Atkins called for clarity on the incident with Bunker official Ashley Klein, who cleared Walsh of a shoulder charge on Coates.
Atkins then informed the players that as Coates was falling when he was struck by Walsh, the Broncos fullback would not be put in the sin bin.
"Good decision," Johns added.
On Monday morning Walsh was hit with a grade one careless high tackle charge and offered an early plea penalty of $3,000. If he decided to fight the charge, he'd risk a two-match ban.
The Broncos fullback was named in Kevin Walters' Kangaroos squad on Monday morning.
From the grand final, Jahrome Hughes was also fined $1,000 for a careless high tackle on Brendan Piakura. Piakura had to leave the field for an HIA but returned.
Piakura was also fined $1,800 for a late shot on Ryan Papenhuyzen.
His act on Papenhuyzen late in the match caused a reaction from the Storm off the next set.
Trent Loiero hit the second-rower high and was sin binned. He has been banned for two matches, meaning he will start the 2026 season on the sidelines unless he chooses to fight the charge at the judiciary.
