Brisbane Broncos star Reece Walsh suffers hand injury and joins Ezra Mam and Hayne Paas in casualty ward

Brisbane star Reece Walsh his broken hand in another bitter blow for the ailing Broncos.

Walsh battled through the injury to play the majority of Saturday’s 42-18 comeback victory over North Queensland and had a role in three out of his side’s four second-half tries.

“Reece has sustained a metacarpal fracture and we will consult a specialist to determine the next steps.” Broncos head of performance Dave Ballard said.

Brisbane are yet to determine how long Walsh will be unavailable as a result of the injury.

While his season hasn’t lived up to the Queensland State of Origin fullback’s lofty standards, Walsh’s performance on Saturday showed he remains a key part of his side’s finals ambitions.

The Broncos, on 22 points, are still a shot of making the top eight but will likely need to win their remaining three games after this week’s bye - against Parramatta, the Dolphins and ladder leaders Melbourne.

But their already-slim finals chances were hit by the news of Walsh’s injury, along with confirmation five-eighth Ezra Mam will miss the remainder of the season.

Mam underwent ankle surgery, while prop Payne Haas has avoided surgery on a foot injury.

Both visited a specialist last week. The Lisfranc injury to Haas was not as severe as the one sustained by Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga earlier this season and his recovery will not require him to go under the knife.

“Ezra underwent surgery last week and will move into his rehab program over the coming weeks, with a view to return ready to go for preseason training later this year,” Ballard said..

“Payne didn’t require surgery. Payne will undergo some further testing in coming days before we can assess when he will return.”

Last year’s grand finalists have been in crisis as they languish at 12th on the ladder with little chance of playing in the finals.

Walsh was involved in an ugly incident in Brisbane’s 46-18 loss to the Titans in round 22 where he gave teammate Corey Oates an on-field spray.

Fullback Walsh, who has made 27 errors in 13 NRL games this year, gave winger Oates a gobful for dropping a poor pass in the club’s eighth loss in nine games.

Broncos legend Steve Renouf called Walsh’s actions “disrespectful”, while former winger Chris Walker said it was a product of frustration and “over-trying”.

Last year Walsh was suspended for his verbal run-in with referee Chris Butler. In his defence at the judiciary Walsh said the worst of his language was directed at lock Pat Carrigan.

Captain Adam Reynolds said after that incident “whether it was to the referee, Patty or anyone in the team the language was unacceptable”.

Renouf was of the same view given Walsh had thrown a hospital pass.

“He can’t be publicly spraying the most senior member of the team. Corey can say stuff as well, and I don’t know exactly what was said, but it is disrespectful,” Renouf told AAP.

“I don’t like players blowing up at their teammates because you are a team.

“You don’t do it in public anyway. Never do it on the field. You have that conversation later in the sheds. Everyone knows the game plan but no-one is perfect.”