Walsh set for sidelines stint following cheek fracture as Origin period looms

Jarred Cross Published April 6, 2026 at 11.00am (AWST)

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The Broncos have confirmed surgery for fullback Reece Walsh, who will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks with the injury. (Image: Dave Hunt/AAP)

Reece Walsh is set for a stint on the sidelines — extending into State of Origin selection time — after the Broncos confirmed their fullback will undergo surgery for a fractured cheekbone he suffered against the Titans.

Walsh was concussed after tackling Kurtis Morrin with seconds remaining in the first half, ruling him out of the remainder of the contest and requiring a trip to hospital.

The Clive Churchill Medallist had already put his mark on what finished a 26-12 Broncos win by reeling in his own fifth tackle bomb to put down the match's first points.

In his 100th NRL appearance, Walsh was later denied a stunning length-of-the-field second try by millimetres of the touch line.

The touchie's reaction is everything 😂 pic.twitter.com/r6sQadWh3g
— NRL (@NRL) April 4, 2026

Speaking post-match, Brisbane coach Michael Maguire mentioned Walsh's swift visit to hospital for scans, as well as additional injury blows to halves Ben Hunt and Josh Reynolds, with the pair sustaining a grade three MCL injury and grade two adductor injury respectively.

Hunt is looking at six to eight weeks before a return, with Reynolds eyeing no more than a fortnight away.

For Walsh, his absence sits somewhere in between.

"The Brisbane Broncos can confirm Reece Walsh suffered a fractured cheekbone in Saturday night's win over the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium," the club said in an update on Sunday.

"He will undergo surgery today, with an expected recovery time of approximately four to six weeks."

The timeline earmarks a return as late as mid-May, and the weekend ahead of when Billy Slater would name his Maroons squad for the Origin opener in Sydney on May 27.

It's another blow to Walsh's recent Queensland career, having missed the entirety of the 2025 series first through injury before being overlooked.

Previously Walsh appeared to have cemented his spot in the state's No.1 jumper after playing all three games in 2024 following his a selection battle with Kalyn Ponga.

In Walsh's absence, Māori All Star Jesse Arthars appears the Broncos' best option to fill in at fullback.

Brisbane have responded to back-to-back losses to start their premiership defence with three wins on the trot, moving to eighth on the early ladder.