Broncos superstar Reece Walsh will be free to play in next week’s preliminary final as the NRL prepares to fine him for headbutting Canberra’s Hudson Young.

Walsh and Young were both sin-binned in Brisbane’s epic 94-minute, 29-28 golden point victory on Sunday, but the Brisbane custodian is set to face only a fine for his contact on the Raiders back-rower.

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity have told this masthead that Walsh is facing a grade 1 charge and a fine for the flashpoint that had Ricky Stuart declaring a “they’ve set a precedent now, you’re allowed to headbutt” after Walsh returned to spearhead a famous Broncos win.

Deliberation is still ongoing around Broncos skipper Pat Carrigan, who was cited and sin-binned for a shoulder charge on Canberra’s Morgan Smithies.

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