Matty Johns makes shock claim about Nathan Cleary after Reece Walsh stunner for Broncos

Matty Johns has claimed Reece Walsh's performance in the final minutes of the Broncos' win over the Raiders is on par with Nathan Cleary's 2023 grand final display, with the fullback proving to be in career-best form. Walsh was sensational in his team's comeback after he was sent to the bin for a head-butt on Raiders second-rower Hudson Young.

Walsh felt he needed to make amends after his binning and repaid his side with a remarkable performance. The 23-year-old immediately returned to the field and scored after slicing through the Canberra defence.

He then put Josiah Karapani over for a try. Walsh then swung momentum back the Broncos with a 40/20 in the 71st minute. And the fullback came close to finishing the game with a two-point field goal. The fullback was electric on the left side of the field having carved open the Broncos to bring the scores to 28-all. A Ben Hunt field goal sealed the victory for Michael Maguire's side send them on to the NRL preliminary final.

The fullback finished the game with a try, two try assists, eight tackle busts and a 40/20. And having watched Walsh haul the Broncos back into the game, Johns feels the effort was on par with Cleary's effort in the 2023 grand final.

Cleary's best game wearing the Panthers No.7 jersey is often considered to be the 2023 grand final display where a 20 minute blitz helped the Panthers seal their third-straight premiership. The Panthers halfback cemented himself in NRL folklore with his solo effort for a try and Walsh may have enjoyed his own career-defining moment on the weekend.

And Johns puts Walsh's resurgence down to his 10 minutes on the sideline, which he suggests helped the Broncos fullback create his own slice of history. "I reckon it's on par with Nathan Cleary's 2023, the last 15 minutes against the Broncos, it was incredible. And you know, it was one of the most crucial things for the Broncos, it sounds absurd, I have know doubt him going to the sin-bin for 10 minutes allowed them to win the football game," Johns said on SEN Radio.

"Both sides were starting to wobble, all of a sudden Walsh gets sent to the sin-bin, as does Hudson Young, soon after Patrick Carrigan. So 12 against 11...meanwhile Walsh is in the sheds putting his feet up, refocusing and resetting. And just comes out totally fresh and just blows them away."

Reece Walsh justifies hype at Brisbane Broncos

Johns' comment might surprise some, but Walsh returned like a man on a mission with the Raiders appearing physically spent with 10 minutes to go. The Raiders couldn't stop the momentum when Walsh returned and the fullback is starting to put in performances that justify the hype around the fullback after copping plenty of criticism throughout the year.

However, it hasn't stopped fans becoming outraged Walsh only received a fine for his incident with Young. While Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was filthy that Walsh wasn't sent-off for the rest of the game.

Reece Walsh escapes suspension for head-butting

Canberra fans are still fuming with Walsh escaping with a $3000 fine for hitting Young with his head. But precedent suggests Walsh was never going to be sent-off or suspended because the NRL has dished out some pretty light punishments for head-butting in recent years.

Earlier this year, Morgan Smithies only copped a $1500 whack for doing the same to Fonua Pole. Walsh and Jarome Luai both only copped fines for head-butting in a State of Origin game in 2023 - but on that occasion they were both sent off.

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Broncos great Corey Parker felt Young played up the incident when he fell to the ground and too much has been made of the incident. "Hudson Young fell to the ground like you wouldn't believe," Parker said. "He dead-set went to the ground with a smile on his face, and then acted like there was some sort of hurt.

"Reece Walsh and Jarome Luai State of Origin 2023. They come together, head-butt and both players are sent off. You know who the referee was? Ashley Klein. Did they get any bans from their next game? No, they had the Origin payments deducted, so it was a fine.

"Just recently, playing for Canberra, one of Ricky's very own players Morgan Smithies head-butts Fonua Pole. Smithies has ball in hand, he lunges forward, head-butts Pole and cops a $1500 grade-one striking charge. This is Ricky's very own player."

While Walsh will be free to play the winner of the Bulldogs and Panthers, Patrick Carrigan will miss the preliminary final due to a one-game suspension. Although the Broncos could be set to welcome back Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo for the must-win game.

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