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Coach flat as Flegler reported four times

3 minute read

Tom Flegler has tied the NRL's record for times placed on report in a single game, and Brisbane coach Kevin Walters admits the prop could be in some trouble.

KEVIN WALTERS.
 KEVIN WALTERS. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has conceded Tom Flegler is in "a fair bit of strife" after being reported four times in the Broncos' loss to the Warriors, but he denies the prop had deliberately hurt any opponent.

Flegler was reported three times in the first 20 minutes of his team's 20-6 defeat in Redcliffe on Saturday afternoon with the third incident seeing him sin-binned.

While the first three appeared minor, the fourth incident will perhaps put him in the hottest of water, with a hip-drop tackle seeing Warriors forward Ben Murdoch-Masila taken from the field.

Ironically, Flegler was playing his first game of the season after serving one of two suspensions he incurred last year.

It is believed to equal a NRL record for most reports in one game set by the Sydney Roosters' Victor Radley, also reported four times against Brisbane last season.

"He's on report four times so obviously that's not great for Tom or the club," Walters, who said he had not clearly viewed the incidents from the sideline, acknowledged.

"It's obviously Tom's first game back and he's looking for so much more, he's bitterly disappointed in there with what's unfolded.

"We'll just have to look at the vision and see where he's at with everything because he's not the type of player to deliberately want to go out and hurt people.

"He plays tough and he plays physical, but it's nothing personal with it."

Walters confirmed five-eighth Albert Kelly and forward Pat Carrigan would spend a number of weeks sidelined after sustaining foot and knee injuries respectively.

Carrigan sustained his injury at the hands of Warriors lock Jazz Tevaga, who was reported for a dangerous tackle.

Coach Nathan Brown said he had not seen what appeared to be a cannonball tackle, but suggested the Broncos should go easy on the criticism.

"They should be careful to criticise as they had a few things themselves they did, didn't they?" he told reporters.

"I won't be getting in any slanging match or having a go at anyone, it was a hard game, a few blokes might have got a few things wrong but I don't think people were going out there to deliberately to get it wrong."

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