NRL fans fume over Reece Walsh news as fresh calls emerge around Magic Round
The NRL's showpiece round has come under scrutiny after the huge news.
NRL fans have been left fuming with Reece Walsh the latest superstar to be ruled out of Magic Round as questions are raised over the timing of the event. The NRL is certainly looking at an injury crisis with star players such as Nathan Cleary and Kalyn Ponga already on the sidelines for a number of weeks. Both will miss State of Origin as well.
But they aren't the only stars missing. Most teams are missing one of their big names heading into round 11, which just so happens to be one of the game's biggest showpieces. Magic Round has been a revelation for the NRL with Brisbane tourism set to make around $40 million from tourism as 140,000 fans flock to Suncorp to watch their team play in the festival of rugby league.
However, it has become clear that the round may feature too far into the season. Fans can't believe the rate in which big names are dropping out right now and for viewers to get excited and travel to another state, most of the big names might have to be playing to elevate the showpiece event.
Reece Walsh is arguably the biggest blow of the lot with the Broncos fullback now set to miss a week due to a calf injury. Kevin Walters isn't worried about the injury, but didn't want to send Walsh out in round 11.
State of Origin could also have an impact on whether stars play the round with selection in two weeks. if players are carrying injuries and don't want to risk This only adds to the argument Magic Round would be better played earlier in the season to avoid a host of injuries due to the ongoing arduous grind of the NRL.
This would benefit fans with many going under the illusion they would get to watch a number of the games superstars on one day, which is part of the unique appeal of Magic Round. NRL fans have been left dumbfounded with the injury list with some even claiming they wouldn't have gone if they had known so many players would be out.
#NRLMagicRound without all these guys (& many more) due to injury!?!? Absolute carnage.
My SuperCoach team is hanging on by a thread. I think the Phins might have to pick Valynce Te Whare to restore the Magic levels over the weekend pic.twitter.com/EIV50rRRQu— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 16, 2024
money back for magic round now that Walsh is also out.. thanks
— JOSH BIRD (@palejawsh) May 15, 2024
Bugger. Magic Round without Walsh, Cleary, Manu, Turbo, Paps, Ponga, Brimson, Moses, Johnson.... just to name a few 😳
— Reece Carter (@Reece_Carter) May 16, 2024
Magic round without Walsh won’t be very magic 😔
— rascql (@rascqls) May 16, 2024
Magic round isn’t sounding
Magical is it. So many injuries this
season. wtf is going on https://t.co/Lkj06yyPFr— Warriors NRL Fanatics (@FanaticsNrl) May 16, 2024
Might have been a blessing that I missed out on magic round tickets this year. A lot of talent missing. They should get them up there for meet and greets atleast for the fans. #Nrl #magicround
— Craigo (@AllabinCraig) May 16, 2024
NRL superstars missing from Magic Round
The injury list is a debacle for the NRL and for Origin. Tom Trbojevic, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Shaun Johnson, Adam Reynolds, Mitchell Moses are just some of the other big names missing. And the injury list prompted reporter David Riccio to suggest, on SEN Radio, the NRL needs to rethink when to schedule arguably the biggest round, outside of the finals, during the tournament.
A suggestion could be to move the round earlier in the season, but this could fall too close to the new Las Vegas round, which will see four teams travel to the US. It would also mean more travel. Fans have already claimed the injury toll has put a dampener on the round, which has often been one of the highlights of the season.
Regardless of the players missing, NRL Magic Round has always been a success with fans joining the Brisbane faithful in making Suncorp Stadium the hub of the rugby league world.
