The most debated topic among rugby league journalists this week has been the treatment of Brisbane based NRL.com reporter Joel Gould and what his case means for the industry.

Can and should NRL clubs control who reports on them?

It is understood Gould has been banned from Broncos headquarters for six weeks.

He can’t attend press conferences or training.

He is the first reporter in Broncos history to be banned from the club.

Former The Courier Mail senior journalist Steve Ricketts was banned from interviewing Wayne Bennett for around three years but that was Bennett’s personal decision.

Ricketts still interviewed players and attended training.

It is understood Gould has been banned from Broncos headquarters for six weeks. Credit: Twitter/Joel Gould

Who ordered Gould’s exile depends on who you talk to.

Whether it’s justifiable also depends on who you talk to.

Gould, an accurate and veteran reporter, sent a text message disparaging Broncos' coach Anthony Seibold, suggesting he lied about player recruitment.

He sent the text to Seibold.

Not ideal.

Seibold was understandably unhappy and has every right to brush Gould.

The Broncos referred the matter to Gould’s employer, the NRL, who initially stood him down for a week, then reinstated him only to ban him from attending the Broncos.

Gould is allowed to cover all non-Bronco aspects of the NRL.

Billy Moore says Brisbane's new generation must help lift the club from the NRL doldrums. Credit: AAP

The bigger issue for NRL.com reporters and league journalists at large is: are we not allowed to accuse coaches of lying?

Trent Robinson among others has admitted to lying.

Journalists are accused of lying constantly.

When Anthony Griffin was coaching the Broncos he attempted to ban me from training due to a series of negative articles.

The ban lasted 30 minutes.

I told my employer at the time, The Courier-Mail, who spoke to Broncos' chairman and Newscorp executive Dennis Watt.

Watt called me soon after and said I was more than welcome at training.

Earlier this month, an NRL player swore about a reporter in front of television cameras.

The disrespect was meant to be heard by the other reporters present.

It was broadcast on the news that night with many beeps.

Should that player be banned now?

Gould’s suspension is a fascinating test case for NRL.com which, through journalists like Gould, have been producing compelling content.

Walker's on

The Broncos are intent on re-signing Ipswich high school talent Sam Walker but the Titans are launching a poaching raid to bring him an hour south.

Walker, son of former Bronco Ben, is as good as everyone says he is.

He has talent, maturity and an excellent family to keep him level headed.

The Broncos hit the track on Tuesday. Credit: AAP

An athletic half or fullback, Walker has been labelled a future NRL star since he was 12 years old.

Now in his final year of high school, clubs have formed a queue, led by the Titans and Roosters, who want him to replace Cooper Cronk.

The Broncos have had him in camps since he was 12 but he’s off contract at the end of the year and with 18-year-old Tom Dearden and 19-year-old Cory Paix ahead of him there may not be a pathway.

Still, Brisbane believe they can fit him into their team in the next 18 months at fullback and considering all the time and effort they’ve put into him, will want to see a dividend.

Webcke backflip

For years Shane Webcke wasn’t much of a fan of Daly Cherry-Evans, and then he had a beer with him.

Cherry-Evans will be named Queensland captain on Monday and it’s an amazing tale of redemption.

Shane Webcke wasn’t much of a fan of Daly Cherry-Evans during his playing days. Credit: AAP

Former Origin players by and large couldn’t cop Cherry-Evans.

The cautious politician-like nature of his speech and backflip on the Titans ensured he wasn’t considered ‘one of them’.

Webcke tells the Seven Network he was the same until coach Kevin Walters invited him and other ex Maroons to a dinner with the current team in the lead up to Origin 3 last year.

Webcke told DCE straight, as that’s the only way he knows how, to stop putting an act on in front of the cameras.

“I enjoyed having beers with him. I said to him, I wish this is the side of you the public saw because you’re a good feller,” Webcke said.

As he prepares to captain his state, Cherry-Evans will hopefully take that advice to heart.

Queensland prop crisis

Towards the end of Mal Meninga’s reign as maroons mastermind, Trevor Gillmeister saw a major issue bubbling over.

The death of the Queensland prop.

Where have sunshine state’s front-rowers disappeared to?

Game one will likely feature just one genuine prop for Queensland, Dylan Napa. Credit: AAP

Game one will likely feature just one genuine prop for Queensland, Dylan Napa.

Papalii, McGuire, Glasby and Arrow are all actually locks.

Gillmeister suggested a prop academy should be developed by Queensland to foster the best teenage front-rowers through expert coaching from the likes of Petero Civoniceva and Shane Webcke.

It didn’t gain traction then but it’s needed more than ever now.

Chris Garry is a rugby league reporter for 7NEWS.com.au, you can follow him on Twitter here.