BRONCOS IN HOT WATER? On-Field Hit Sparks Growing Off-Field Storm as Pressure Mounts After Warriors ClashBroncos Dominate as Walsh Stakes Origin Claim, Warriors Rocked by Double Injury Blow in Costly Loss
The Brisbane Broncos returned to the winner’s circle with a convincing 26-12 victory over the New Zealand Warriors at Suncorp Stadium, but the story of the night wasn’t just Brisbane’s resurgence or Reece Walsh’s sparkling Origin audition—it was the Warriors’ horror injury toll, which could have major implications for their finals hopes.
The clash, billed as a crucial litmus test for both clubs, quickly tilted in Brisbane’s favour. Reece Walsh, back from injury and in the spotlight amid Kalyn Ponga’s unavailability for State of Origin III, delivered arguably his best performance of the season. But the Warriors, brave all year, were left battered, bruised, and facing an uncertain path forward after losing both Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Luke Metcalf to worrying knee injuries.
Walsh Shines Bright in Origin Race
With Ponga ruled out due to a Lisfranc injury suffered on Friday night, Maroons selectors turned their eyes to Suncorp, where Walsh knew he needed a statement game to push his case.
He didn’t disappoint.
Walsh was electric, clocking 103 metres with five tackle busts, two offloads, a linebreak assist, and a try assist. The highlight came late in the first half when he threw a perfectly timed short ball to put Gehamat Shibasaki over for a key try before the break.
“This was probably Walsh’s best game of the season,” Michael Ennis said post-match on Fox League. “Things were just happening around him today. He looked sharp, decisive, and hungry.”
Billy Slater will have a tough call to make between Walsh and shifting Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback, but the Broncos star may have just edged ahead in the race.
Brisbane’s Composure Guides Them to Win
The Broncos didn’t take long to assert dominance. Adam Reynolds opened the scoring with a pinpoint grubber for Kotoni Staggs, followed by a lovely cut-out ball from Ezra Mam to send Josiah Karapani over for his fifth try in just three games.
A ruck infringement by the Warriors gifted Reynolds a penalty goal and a 12-0 lead. Though Luke Metcalf threatened to answer with a sharp break that almost resulted in a try for Chanel Harris-Tavita, the bunker ruled the ball wasn’t grounded.
Walsh’s assist just before the half stretched the Broncos’ lead to 18-0, and they never truly looked back.
In the second half, Walsh was again in the thick of it—this time being taken out while chasing a Reynolds kick, which gifted Brisbane another penalty goal despite questions over whether he was offside.
The Warriors momentarily sparked to life when Leka Halasmia soared to score from a Harris-Tavita bomb, but Brisbane answered swiftly. Reynolds and Mam combined to send Shibasaki over for his second of the night, closing the door on any potential comeback and sealing Brisbane’s third consecutive win.
Warriors Hit Hard by Injury Crisis
While Brisbane celebrated their strong ladder position—now climbing back into the top five—the Warriors were left counting the cost.
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad limped off just before halftime after injuring his knee while attempting a tackle on Shibasaki. He didn’t return.
Then disaster struck again.
In a moment of high drama, Luke Metcalf was levelled by Broncos forward Brendan Piakura in a heavy collision. The hit left Metcalf writhing in pain and forced him off the field. Piakura was placed on report for the incident, though opinions were divided about whether it warranted disciplinary action.
Mick Ennis, speaking on commentary, was stunned by the decision to put Piakura on report, calling it “a tough call” and insisting, “There was nothing wrong with it!”
Post-game, Warriors coach Andrew Webster offered a bleak update.
“We’re very concerned about both injuries,” he said. “We won’t know until we get scans done back in New Zealand, but I can tell you they won’t be playing in two weeks.”
He continued: “I asked the doctor for a summary and he just said it could be a number of things. We’ll wait for the scans, but we’re looking at all possibilities, including an ACL tear.”
Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson reported that Warriors CEO Cameron George was also deeply concerned about Metcalf’s injury, suggesting it could be season-ending if the ACL fears are confirmed.
Nicoll-Klokstad and Metcalf have been two of the Warriors’ best performers this season. Their creativity, leadership, and defensive consistency have been key pillars in the team’s strong top-four campaign. Now, with both potentially sidelined for an extended period, the Warriors find themselves at a critical juncture.
A Season at the Crossroads
Already without Mitch Barnett for the remainder of the season, the Warriors can ill afford to lose any more key personnel. Consecutive losses are concerning enough—but now, their premiership ambitions hang in the balance.
Metcalf had looked dangerous early, helping set up a try for Tuivasa-Sheck with a beautiful long pass before the Warriors launched a spirited fightback in the second half. But once he was gone, their structure fell apart.
The club, once seen as a dark horse for a maiden NRL title in 2025, now faces a genuine test of depth and resilience.
“We’ve overcome a lot this year,” Webster said. “But this one’s going to challenge us.”
What Comes Next?
For the Broncos, their next few weeks present an opportunity to build on this momentum. Their spine is humming, Walsh looks primed for Origin, and their attack is beginning to click again.
As for the Warriors, they’ll need to dig deep. Pending scans on Nicoll-Klokstad and Metcalf will likely shape the rest of their campaign. With a bye looming in Round 18, they’ll hope to regroup—but the fear is that the injury news may only get worse.
Their premiership hopes aren’t over. But they’ve taken a massive hit—and the NRL world is watching to see how they respond.
