Broncos superstar Reece Walsh will be free to play in next week’s preliminary final after being fined $3000 for headbutting Canberra’s Hudson Young.

Brisbane skipper Pat Carrigan however is facing a one-game ban for a careless high tackle on Morgan Smithies, where an early guilty plea would keep his grand final hopes alive if the Broncos can advance to the decider without him.

Walsh and Young were both sin-binned in Brisbane’s epic 94-minute, 29-28 golden point victory on Sunday, but the Brisbane custodian was issued a grade 1 striking charge for the incident.

Young was not charged, while Walsh would face a two-game ban were he to challenge the charge at the judiciary.

Walsh was also issued a $1800 fine for contrary conduct after he gave the GIO Stadium crowd the finger as he walked

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