Latest news with #KotoniStaggs
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kotoni Staggs lifts lid on eye-opening clash with Reece Walsh ahead of Eels game
Kotoni Staggs has moved to rubbish any drama surrounding his on-field clash with teammate Reece Walsh as the Brisbane Broncos look to continue their momentum against the Eels this weekend. Walsh was seen spraying Staggs after his teammate dropped the ball in good attacking position against the Titans in round 19. There were suggestions there was frustration amongst the playing group after Walsh and Staggs' moment during the victory against their Queensland rivals. The fullback looked like he was going to put Staggs through a gap when the centre dropped a pretty straightforward pass. The two were seen having a go at each other, although most fans pointed out the clash with Staggs simply shows the duo care about the result. While Staggs and Walsh clearly get along, plenty was made of the footage after the win. And having enjoyed a weekend off with the bye, the Broncos are set to return rested and ready to close the gap on the top four. And Staggs has praised Walsh's demand for improvement within the playing group, which is what makes him one of the best fullbacks in the game. But he also suggested it's this same attribute, which often prompts the leaders to step in. "Walshy is someone I love playing with. He is a competitor and he doesn't like losing," Staggs said with a grin. "So when things don't go his way he does blow up a bit. We've just got to calm him down at times." Walsh and Staggs combined for a long-range try later in the game with the duo putting the moment to rest. And Staggs said this is what makes Walsh great. "You've got to be in the right position at the right time, which I was. I put a bit of footwork on and he was pushing up through the middle as a good fullback does and got the try for us," Staggs said. At the time, coach Michael Maguire was quick to defend Walsh and claimed the scenes showed how much he cared about winning. "Reece, he loves his footy and he's striving to continually be the best, and that's all the boys and that's the perfection they're chasing," Maguire said. "Whether or not it's him trying to get the ball to him early or not, Reece does wear his heart on his sleeve and that's why we love him and the boys love playing with him. At times he's going to execute something and other times he's going to be working out how he gets it done. So I think as long as he keeps competing the way he is, the boys love playing with him." Brisbane Broncos seeking top four position The Broncos have turned around a mid-season slump to climb back to fifth on the ladder. Maguire was facing real pressure as coach after four-straight losses at one stage, but the team has responded with five consecutive wins. RELATED: Latrell Mitchell moment says it all as Souths rocked by another injury Broncos sign 'next Benji Marshall' from rival NRL club's backyard Ben Hunt is back and starting in the No.9 jersey, while Walsh's return from a knee injury has changed the team's attack in recent weeks. While they remain four points behind the Warriors, they will fancy their opportunity to get two points against the Eels this weekend. And Staggs feels the team have become closer across the season as they block out the noise. "I just think we have gotten closer," Staggs said. "We are all buying into what is going on at training and we have shifted some things around as well. We do have the team to win the premiership. We just have to believe in one another and keep turning up for one another. We have strike players on the field and we have just got to get the ball in their hands."
ABC News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Kotoni Staggs praises Reece Walsh's aggressive mentality despite fiery clash as Broncos ride hot streak
Brisbane will go in search of six victories in a row with centre Kotoni Staggs relishing his red-hot and volatile rapport with fullback Reece Walsh. The duo have been two of the Broncos best for the past month, despite having a heated exchange during the 26-14 win over Gold Coast before the bye. Staggs dropped a Walsh pass in the first half and copped a spray, before returning serve. After the break, Walsh threw a lovely pass, Staggs burst away and Walsh backed up to score. It was classic backline play and what the pair will want to replicate against Parramatta at Lang Park on Friday night. Staggs brushed aside his words with Walsh and said the No.1 had the right mentality. "Walshy is someone I love playing with. He is a competitor and he doesn't like losing," Staggs grinned. "So, when things don't go his way he does blow up a bit. We've just got to calm him down at times." The passion with which the pair play is highly regarded by teammates, with the long-range try they scored against the Titans summing up their quest for excellence and maturity after the verbal exchange. "You've got to be in the right position at the right time, which I was. I put a bit of footwork on and he was pushing up through the middle as a good fullback does and got the try for us," Staggs said. The Broncos have climbed to fifth position after they had slipped to 11th with five losses on the trot. Staggs said the negative outside noise was not a reflection of the inner sanctum. "I just think we have gotten closer," Staggs said. "We are all buying into what is going on at training and we have shifted some things around as well. "We do have the team to win the premiership. We just have to believe in one another and keep turning up for one another. "We have strike players on the field and we have just got to get the ball in their hands." Staggs, who has re-signed until the end of 2028, is in career-best form. "I am a leader at this club and want to put my best foot forward every game. If I am doing my role and playing my best footy the boys jump on the back of me," he said. AAP
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Staggs relishes fire in Walsh as Broncos duo click
Brisbane will go in search of six games in a row with centre Kotoni Staggs relishing his red-hot and volatile rapport with fullback Reece Walsh. The duo have been two of the Broncos best for the past month despite having a heated exchange during the 26-14 win over Gold Coast before the bye. Staggs dropped a Walsh pass before halftime and copped a spray, before returning serve. After the break Walsh threw a lovely pass, Staggs burst away and Walsh backed up to score. It was classic backline play and what the pair will want to replicate against Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night. Staggs brushed aside his words with Walsh and said the No.1 had the right mentality. "Walshy is someone I love playing with. He is a competitor and he doesn't like losing," Staggs grinned. "So when things don't go his way he does blow up a bit. We've just got to calm him down at times." The passion the pair play with is highly regarded by teammates and the long-range try they scored against the Titans summed up their quest for excellence and maturity after the verbal exchange. "You've got to be in the right position at the right time, which I was. I put a bit of footwork on and he was pushing up through the middle as a good fullback does and got the try for us," Staggs said. The Broncos are in fifth position after they had slipped to 11th with five losses on the trot. Staggs said the negative outside noise was not a reflection of the inner sanctum. "I just think we have gotten closer," Staggs said. "We are all buying into what is going on at training and we have shifted some things around as well. "We do have the team to win the premiership. We just have to believe in one another and keep turning up for one another. "We have strike players on the field and we have just got to get the ball in their hands." Staggs, who has re-signed until the end of 2028, is in career-best form. "I am a leader at this club and want to put my best foot forward every game. If I am doing my role and playing my best footy the boys jump on the back of me," he said.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reece Walsh's perfect response after Broncos try celebration sparks NRL debate
Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh has defended his audacious try celebration against the Titans after sparking debate around the NRL world about whether he should be performing backflips so soon after returning from a serious knee injury. Walsh turned heads in an eye-catching performance for Brisbane on Sunday that also included a heated on-field confrontation with teammate, Kotoni Staggs. But it was the decision to mark his stunning second half try with an acrobatic celebration that left many questioning the Brisbane No.1. And it was enough to give coach Michael Maguire heart palpitations after Walsh executed a manoeuvre that American gymnastics sensation Simone Biles would have been proud of. Walsh is a confidence player and the celebration was further proof that the livewire No.1's swagger is back, with some arguing it should be embraced by Maguire, rather than discouraged. But others insisted the Brisbane coach would be rightly concerned seeing his superstar fullback performing backflips when his leg is heavily strapped and he looks a little ginger after returning last month from a knee injury that kept him sidelined for six weeks. Calling the moment live on SEN League, former NRL star Justin Horo described the try celebration as 'a beautiful 10 out of 10'. But after seeing Walsh appear to prop awkwardly in his stride before running over to score, Horo admits his heart was in his mouth after witnessing the acrobatics that followed. "Considering the injury and the fact he looked like he was on a treadmill here because he looked like he'd done his hammy. I thought he'd done a soft tissue injury there," Horo said after Walsh briefly appeared to pull up lame before the tryline. "It's almost a perfect 10 out of 10 for the celebration if you're not factoring in that he's been out for the last six weeks with a PCL injury." Madge watching Walsh doing a backflip try cele with a bum knee — Harold Holt Memorial Pool (@champagnesftboi) July 13, 2025 I wonder how nervous Madge was when Reece Walsh was doing his post-try celebration#NRLTitansBroncos — James Cheeseman @ (@shaggy84329) July 13, 2025 But Walsh says he was just doing his bit for the NRL's Try July campaign, where every try celebration across the month sees $5000 donated towards either the the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation (ASCF) and the Player Hardship Fund. And he suggested the reaction to his celebration was blown out of proportion. "I don't mind mate, it's all for a good cause and I've been doing that stuff my whole life," he told ABC radio after the game. The Brisbane fullback also insisted there were no issues with Staggs after chastising his teammate for a first-half error, before the pair combined for Walsh's try. "I feel like it's my job to get him involved in the games and I feel like there's a few games there where I didn't do my job to unlock 'Tones (Staggs)," Walsh added. "And I feel like I've just got to keep building that connection with him and getting him that ball where he's good and it's awesome to see him playing some good footy." Some commentators thought Walsh's spray showed there might be fractures in the Broncos playing group. But others argued it simply showed that they care, as you hardly ever see disinterested players call out their teammates' mistakes. Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and coach Michael Maguire both stated it was completely normal in the heat of the moment. "We're trying to be perfect out there," Reynolds said after the game. "It's not always going to go to plan, but we're adults, we talk about a situation when it happens. Sure enough, they fixed it up and scored a long-range try so they're working hard, and it's always good to have that feedback on the field." RELATED: Roosters playmaker tipped to exit after being overlooked for veteran Fury over Panthers star's ban after Parra rival cops season-ending injury Knights offer contracts to two State of Origin players amid Ponga blow Maguire added: "Reece, he loves his footy and he's striving to continually be the best, and that's all the boys and that's the perfection they're chasing. Whether or not it's him trying to get the ball to him early or not, Reece does wear his heart on his sleeve and that's why we love him and the boys love playing with him."
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Telling new footage comes to light after Reece Walsh's clash with teammate
Fan footage of the Brisbane Broncos celebrating a try-saving play from Gehamat Shibasaki against the Titans shows how tight-knit the playing group is. And it flies in the face of suggestions about a heated on-field clash between Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs. Walsh was seen spraying Staggs after his teammate dropped the ball in good attacking position on Sunday night. Staggs initially apologised, but when Walsh kept going he appeared to snap back and tell his fullback to knock it off. Some commentators thought it showed there might be fractures in the playing group, but it looks like it's completely the opposite. Fans have pointed out that Walsh's clash with Staggs simply shows they care, as you hardly ever see disinterested players call out their teammates' mistakes. And vision of how the players reacted to a try-saver from Shibasaki dispels any thought of a fractured group. The State of Origin player knocked the ball out of Jaylan de Groot's grasp when he looked destined to score a certain try. Most players wouldn't have bothered, but Shibasaki showed his desperation and commitment to save the four-pointer. The on-field referee sent the decision to the Bunker official, who confirmed it wasn't a try. Fan footage is doing the rounds on social media of the moment the players saw the replay of Shibasaki's effort, and they immediately got around their teammate to celebrate. Walsh and Staggs were among a number of players who went straight to Shibasaki to hype up the star centre, and fans were loving what they saw. I love that — Matthew__Tabet (@tabet_matthew) July 13, 2025 This is beautiful to see man — 🌟 (@JBroncosEra) July 13, 2025 As for Walsh's clash with Staggs, Broncos captain Adam Reynolds and coach Michael Maguire both stated it was completely normal in the heat of the moment. The players patched things up when Staggs set Walsh up for a try not long after. "We're trying to be perfect out there," Reynolds said after the game. "It's not always going to go to plan, but we're adults, we talk about a situation when it happens. Sure enough, they fixed it up and scored a long-range try so they're working hard, and it's always good to have that feedback on the field." Pete Badel has labeled this a 'Heated Reece Walsh-Kotoni Staggs on-field confrontation' 😂 — NRLCentral (@centralNRL) July 13, 2025 Maguire added: "Reece, he loves his footy and he's striving to continually be the best, and that's all the boys and that's the perfection they're chasing. Whether or not it's him trying to get the ball to him early or not, Reece does wear his heart on his sleeve and that's why we love him and the boys love playing with him. At times he's going to execute something and other times he's going to be working out how he gets it done. So I think as long as he keeps competing the way he is, the boys love playing with him." RELATED: Knights offer contracts to two Origin players amid Ponga blow Jett Cleary takes massive step out of brother Nathan's shadow The majority of Broncos fans actually saw the positives in Walsh and Staggs jawing at each other, as it shows they're so close that they feel comfortable doing that. One person wrote on social media: "If you've ever played footy before you know this is normal. This is good for the Bronx." Another commented: "Two passionate players who love the club. Good to see." While a third added: "Fans want to see that, it means they have standards and are accountable to them."
