Broncos superstar Reece Walsh has been fined $3000 for headbutting as Canberra chief executive Don Furner dismissed claims he was abused by the GIO Stadium crowd as PR spin.

Walsh will be free to play in next week’s preliminary final after avoiding a suspension for headbutting Hudson Young, while Brisbane skipper Pat Carrigan faces a one-game ban for a careless high tackle on Morgan Smithies.

An early guilty plea would have Carrigan free to play in the grand final should Brisbane qualify, though utility Billy Walters has emerged as another casualty of Sunday’s 94-minute 29-28 golden point epic.

Walters sustained ACL damage in the thrilling win and while he has not ruptured his knee ligaments - which would require a 6-9 month lay-off - he is considered unlikely to play again this season

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