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Reece Walsh at centre of 'scorpion' storm as Brisbane Broncos left fuming

The Broncos have reportedly lodged concerns with the NRL after their win over the North Queensland Cowboys.

Reece Walsh.
Reece Walsh was on the receiving end of a nasty looking tackle from Coen Hess. Image: Fox League/Getty

The Brisbane Broncos have reportedly lodged a complaint with the NRL after Reece Walsh was allegedly on the receiving end of a so-called 'scorpion' tackle against the Cowboys last weekend. Walsh was seen wincing in pain after having his leg tucked up behind him in a tackle from Coen Hess - much like the way a scorpion's tail curls up.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Broncos officials are fuming over Hess' actions and have called on the NRL to look into it. But the Cowboys are said to be fuming over the allegation and have denied it was intentional.

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Hopefully the 'scorpion' isn't creeping into the game as the latest wrestling technique players are using, much like the outlawed 'grapple', 'chicken wing' and 'crusher'. Speaking on NRL 360 on Monday night, journalist Brent Read explained: “Reece Walsh copped the scorpion on the weekend against the Cowboys. The Broncos privately aren’t very happy about this. And the Cowboys aren’t very happy that they have been accused of this tackling technique. (Journalist) Pete Badel spoke to Todd Payten today and he was furious."

Broncos legend Gorden Tallis said he believed Hess' actions were unintentional. “Is that an accident?” he asked. “I don’t think Coen Hess is that type of player. He has been playing in the middle all year. That looks like an accident.”

Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield wasn't willing to accept the 'scorpion' is creeping into the game and called for more examples. “Before you can name a new tackle a scorpion or a cannon-ball or whatever, you need five or six examples of it happening in a game,” he said.

“I think you have gone far too early to be honest. If I see it next week and the week after I will give you some credibility."

Coen Hess.
Coen Hess in action for the North Queensland Cowboys. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Can the Brisbane Broncos win NRL premiership?

The Broncos are on track for a top-two finish after their 30-14 won over the Cowboys in Townsville. Walsh has been in outstanding form since returning from a three-game suspension for abusing a referee, and scored a try in the second half on Saturday to go along with two line-break assists and six tackle breaks.

Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan laid the platform for Walsh to terrify the Cowboys on either side of the ruck, with the fullback putting the game beyond doubt with his four-pointer with seven minutes remaining. But it was the Broncos' steely defence that impressed coach Kevin Walters the most after Phil Gould claimed it wasn't good enough for Brisbane to win the comp.

The Cowboys had 38 play-the-balls inside Brisbane's 20-metre line, but only came up with three tries. "The Cowboys are a team that can score points and very quickly," Walters said.

"We managed to keep them to three tries which is probably one more than we'd like but we're not greedy at the Broncos. Today was a classic example of how we can get better."

Cowboys coach Payten said Brisbane's defence typified why they are currently pushing for the minor premiership. The Broncos are equal with the Panthers on 36 points with four rounds remaining, but have an inferior points differential.

"They didn't give us a lot of opportunities, we didn't get a shot on their try line until the 20-minute mark," Payten said. "That's the discipline of a good team and they sit where they sit because they've been able to do it consistently well."

with AAP

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