NRL fans demand rule change after Reece Walsh barred from playing Broncos game for no reason

The fullback was forced to miss the Broncos’ last game, but didn’t play State of Origin 2 either.

Angry NRL fans are once again calling for changes to the State of Origin schedule after Reece Walsh and Api Koroisau were forced to miss club games last weekend for no reason. The NRL will reportedly consider putting the regular season on hold from next year to play State of Origin in three consecutive weeks.

The current system is well past its used by date and has been a constant source of frustration for years. The Dolphins and Roosters game in Round 15 was missing a whopping 12 players due to State of Origin commitments, while Walsh, Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs and Cameron Murray were all barred from playing in the Broncos and Rabbitohs game.

Reece Walsh watched the entire State of Origin 2 from the bench. Image: Channel 9

But the situation with Walsh and Koroisau has highlighted how farcical the system is. Neither player got on the field on Wednesday night in Origin 2 because of the new six-man bench, yet they were still effectively ‘banned’ from playing in their club games for the Broncos and Tigers last weekend.

All players in the 19-man squads are barred from playing club footy the week before an Origin game, which is easier to swallow for teams on the bye. But Broncos fans are particularly peeved that Walsh had to sit out the loss to South Sydney and then spent 80 minutes on the bench on Wednesday night.

It looked like Walsh might see some action when Cameron Munster was forced to go off for a head injury assessment, and then again when Kalyn Ponga was hit high by Kotoni Staggs. But Billy Slater kept his bullet in the chamber and Walsh never got on, meaning he effectively sat out the Broncos game for no reason.

One person wrote on social media: “Walsh missing a game for Brisbane to sit on the bench for 80 mins is beyond ridiculous. Origin disrupts clubs enough without this sh*t.”

Another commented: “Reece Walsh missed a game for the Broncos, (who desperately needed him by the way), so he could be the 6th man on a 4 man bench. It’s the dumbest rule they have created in the last 10 years.”

NRL likely to change State of Origin schedule

From next season, the NRL will likely adopt a new system in which Origin is played over three consecutive weeks while the competition is put on hold. It would mean Origin players don’t have to miss club games – either beforehand while they’re in camp or backing up afterwards.

Nathan Cleary appears highly unlikely to back-up for the Panthers on Saturday against the Titans, while the Knights face a tricky call with Kalyn Ponga for Friday night against the Dragons. The Dolphins have already decided that Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo and Tom Flegler won’t play on Saturday against the Tigers, while the Cowboys, Storm and Roosters’ reps appear more likely to back-up because their games are on Sunday.