Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs have been praised for their generosity after they were seen helping the local Indigenous community ahead of their victory over the Cowboys in North Queensland. The Broncos overcame an 18-6 deficit to leave the Cowboys shell-shocked on Saturday having scored 36-unanswered points to win away from home.

The Broncos may not be playing NRL finals footy this year, after their performance came a little too late to make the top eight, but the side reminded fans they still have plenty of talent in their ranks. Walsh has been at the centre of plenty criticism since the end of State of Origin with his form wavering in recent weeks, but he was one of the standouts in the Broncos comeback.

And it appears Walsh and Staggs were also showing their class off the field before the clash against the Cowboys after a local praised the duo for buying food and dropping it off for the homeless in town. Taking to social media, Selina Hughes praised Walsh and Staggs for showing their generosity and chatting away with locals – without cameras present – in a quiet act of humility on Friday night.

“Biggest love for Staggs and Walsh seeing them in the Townsville CBD buying food and dropping it off to our Indigenous homeless friends and family. You don’t see many people like them, vary caring people doing good things like that. Had to thank the brothers for helping and acknowledging our mob, best feeling ever witnessing them doing that,” she wrote.

Hughes’ kind words for Walsh and Staggs has garnered plenty of attention on social media with the duo praised for their simple, but kind act. Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, both Walsh and Staggs were instrumental on Saturday when the Broncos came out in the second-half to blitz the home side.

Reece Walsh defies critics in Broncos performance

Walsh has continued to defy his critics after Origin even if the Broncos have been well below their best in 2024. The 21-year-old fullback appears to be carrying a rib injury of some sort into the last few games of the season as he visibly battles with fatigue and his body after Origin.

However, it didn’t stop the fullback recording two try assists, six tackle busts and two line break assists in the 42-18 win. And while Walsh continues to defy the doubters with his attacking talent, Staggs had arguably one of his best games of the year.

The centre was a powerhouse in the second-half as he recorded two tries and five line breaks in the bulldozing display. And captain Adam Reynolds was full of praise for Staggs after the clash and said he has shown his ability to lead the team.

“He’s been one of our best players this season,” Reynolds said on Saturday. “He’s a leader in this team, he leads with his actions and he is a big reason why we won.”

While Walsh and Staggs were the stars of the shows, it hasn’t stopped Walsh being at the centre of controversy all week after spraying teammate Corey Oates in the Broncos’ loss last week. And ahead of the clash against the Cowboys, Brisbane coach Kevin Walters said he felt obliged to speak to both players to ensure major fractures did not occur.