NRL legend Cooper Cronk has jumped to the defense of Reece Walsh after the Broncos star faced significant backlash for his harsh critique of teammate Corey Oates during Brisbane’s 46-18 defeat against the Titans. Despite leading 18-10 at halftime, the Broncos were overwhelmed by their southeast Queensland rivals in the second half, conceding seven unanswered tries.
The aftermath of the game saw Walsh heavily criticized by fans and commentators for berating Oates following an error. This incident has raised concerns about potential discord within the Brisbane squad. With the score at 28-18 and 14 minutes left on the clock, the Broncos had a crucial opportunity to narrow the gap. Walsh, maneuvering on the left, delivered a poorly timed pass to Oates, who fumbled the ball under pressure from Titans’ Phil Sami.
Walsh’s immediate and intense reprimand of the veteran winger drew attention, with Fox League’s Paul Crawley highlighting Walsh’s apparent “ego problem.” However, Broncos captain Adam Reynolds defended Walsh, acknowledging his youthful exuberance and the inevitability of mistakes in his development. “It’s part of learning and he’s still a young kid,” Reynolds remarked. “He’s still growing into his role. He’s a competitor and he tries hard and he’s going to get errors in his game but we believe in Reece and those things happen.”
Further support for Walsh came from Cooper Cronk during Tuesday’s NRL 360 program. Cronk justified Walsh’s reaction, asserting that Oates should have caught the pass. “I’ve given a bake and I’ve copped a bake,” Cronk stated. “Oates has got to catch the ball, that’s just the way we operate,” he added.
Broncos icon Gorden Tallis echoed Cronk’s sentiments, suggesting that such outbursts are intrinsic to first-grade football. He cited legendary playmakers Andrew Johns and Jonathan Thurston, known for their on-field rebukes of teammates, and argued that it’s preferable for players to express their frustrations openly rather than feigning composure. “I tell you what I dislike, I dislike when a side loses and they walk up and they pat (each other on the back) and they smile,” Tallis said. “When two blokes have it out there and they move on, I would rather that in my footy team. I’d rather that because then it’s gone.”
Despite the visible tensions, the Broncos maintain that there is no internal strife affecting their performance. Walsh’s outburst, coupled with the team’s evident frustration, has led some to speculate about potential rifts within the squad. The Broncos, who were strong contenders for the premiership in 2023, have struggled to recapture that form in 2024, failing to consistently deliver winning performances.
Cronk attributes this inconsistency to a lack of cohesion and work ethic among the players. “You can sit there and point the finger (at one player),” Cronk observed. “Ultimately I think it’s that cohesion as a group and the work ethic (that’s hurt them) because when they were humming last year they were working hard for one another.”
However, Broncos lock Pat Carrigan insists that the team remains united, despite their poor standing, six places outside the top eight. Carrigan emphasized the strong bonds within the team and the constructive nature of their feedback process. “We are (united),” Carrigan affirmed on Tuesday. “I think for us, our feedback happens in a public forum and as a group, we’re really close-knit and I think the relationships that we have provide an opportunity for us to be able to give feedback on the run and help each other out.
“I think that just comes to how competitive we are as a group, but in terms of any fractures; there’s nothing like that. It’s just some frustrations that come with footy sometimes. But in terms of being mates, in our connectivity; it couldn’t be any better.”
In summary, while Reece Walsh’s fiery interaction with Corey Oates has sparked debates about team harmony, key figures within the Broncos and the broader NRL community defend such passionate exchanges as part and parcel of high-level sports. The team’s current form may reflect deeper issues of cohesion and work ethic, but internally, the Broncos assert that their camaraderie remains strong.
