The Brisbane Broncos have been dealt a crushing blow with Billy Walters’ season over after he suffered an ACL injury against the Canberra Raiders.
The news comes after the Broncos produced a comeback for the ages to stun the Raiders and book themselves a home preliminary final.
Walters will now most likely watch on from the sidelines as the club pushes towards a Grand Final berth in two weeks.
“Scans have confirmed Billy Walters suffered damage to his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in Sunday afternoon’s victory over the Raiders,” a club statement read.
“Walters will work with the club’s medical team to assess the next steps in his recovery.”
The loss of their playmaker comes after Patrick Carrigan was handed a one-week suspension for his high tackle on Morgan Smithies that left the Raiders forward with a bleeding mouth and a category two HIA.
Along with Walters’ injury, the club are sweating on Brendan Piakura’s recovery after he suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone.
Piakura will have scans on Tuesday to determine if his season is also over following the qualifying final blockbuster.
In some good news for the Broncos, superstar prop Payne Haas was cleared of a serious ankle injury.
Haas was seen limping throughout the contest against the Raiders with fears he had suffered a serious injury, but he’ll now use the next two weeks to recover and be primed to go.
In the biggest news for the club, superstar fullback Reece Walsh avoided being suspended over his headbutt on Hudson Young.
The NRL felt a fine fit the crime, with the Brisbane No.1 handed a $3,000 grade-one striking offence.
It is a decision that has left the NRL world stunned.
But not NRL great Cooper Cronk, who told news.com.au Walsh’s star power likely helped him escape a ban.
“Reece Walsh is a genuine superstar in our competition”
“I’m not surprised (he wasn’t suspended). I probably think he deserved to be suspended. But then you’ll have people say he’s a superstar who brings people through the gates.
“But ultimately, if it’s round 1 or a preliminary final, I don’t think you can be doing those types of things on a rugby league field.”
The Broncos will face the winner of the Penrith Panthers and Canterbury Bulldogs in next week’s preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.
