Warriors star facing ban for ugly tackle that ended Walsh’s season
Updated . First published
Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is facing two weeks on the sidelines after an ugly hip-drop tackle that ended Reece Walsh’s season.
In the first half of Saturday’s 40-6 win over the premiers, Nicoll-Klokstad was given his marching orders after he landed on the leg of the Broncos star.
Reece Walsh is taken from the field. NRL Imagery
Walsh had stayed down in agony before the Bunker reviewed the tackle which led to the Warriors star’s departure.
“That looks bad,” Andrew Johns said on Nine.
Brisbane have since confirmed Walsh will be sidelined for eight weeks due to a high-grade syndesmosis injury, likely ruling him out World Cup duties with the Kangaroos as well as the final three games of the NRL season.
Nicoll-Klokstad has since been charged with grade three dangerous contact and will miss two matches with an early guilty plea.
If he fights the charge and loses, the Warriors star won’t play again until finals.
Walsh started to hobble off before he rejoined play, effectively on one leg, as the Broncos went on the attack.
The fullback tried to throw a cut-out pass to the wing which was then intercepted by Alofiana Khan-Pereira who ran the field to score and make it 16-0.
Walsh then left the field and was ruled out with a high ankle sprain.
The injury carnage continued when Luke Metcalf tried to convert the Khan-Pereira try and injured his hamstring.
A frustrated Metcalf went straight up the tunnel after only just returning to the Warriors starting side.
Johnathan Thurston described it as a “devastating blow”.
“I feel sorry for him ... he’s been around for so long and had so many injuries,” he said.
Post-match, Warriors coach Andrew Webster said Metcalf was “very emotional” when it first happened.
“But he’s come good in that sense and been a good teammate, at half-time he joined the team and sat down,” he said.
Luke Metcalf leaves the field. Nine
That style of injury is the second to happen in a week after Rabbitohs half Ashton Ward also tore his hamstring goalkicking.
The injury to Metcalf didn’t stop the Warriors’ domination as they finished 40–6 winners.
“They [the Warriors] are hungry,” Johns said.
“If you’re asking me now who’s the favourite I think the Roosters but just behind them is the Warriors.”
Penrith will now be feeling the pressure of the Warriors with both sides on 36 points. The Panthers are second on the premiership ladder on points differential.
