New South Wales rookie Joseph Suaalii has spoken out for the first time after being sent off just eight minutes into his State of Origin debut for a brutal high shot on Queensland fullback Reece Walsh.
The Roosters star is facing a four-match ban with an early guilty plea, meaning he’ll miss Origin Game II as well as a handful of club games. Should he fight he ban and lose, he would miss five weeks – effectively ending his Origin career given he moves to rugby in 2025.
Suaalii fronted cameras outside the Blues’ team hotel on Thursday morning, saying: “Obviously a bit disappointed, letting my fam(ily), my state, just my teammates down. I feel like that’s really the toughest thing about it. Just got to move on from now.”
He said he had received plenty of support from the Blues side: “Hundred per cent, I think every single person in the team and the staff (have supported me), we’ve created a brotherhood. It definitely showed yesterday and today.”
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But he denied the move was intentional, adding: “I didn’t mean it at all. I just wanted to go and tackle him and I accidentally clipped his head. I hope he’s doing all right, I hope he’s doing well. But yeah, I didn’t mean to hit him in the head.”
Suaalii revealed that he plans to reach out to Walsh over the incident, saying: “I haven’t reached out yet but it’s something I’ll do.”
Suaalii earlier took to Instagram to write: “Mixed emotions.
“Disappointed let my brothers, fam n state down. Blessed and honoured to put the blue jersey on. #311
“Onto the next.”
It comes amid accusations from the Queensland camp that NSW had deliberately targeted Queensland’s livewire fullback.
Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston said on Thursday morning: “Everyone’s seen it, it’s unfortunate for Suaalii making his debut. We want to see our best players playing in the biggest games.
“But it was direct contact to the head, forceful contact. They clearly had a target on him and it didn’t turn out right. The officials had no other option, really.”
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Queensland coach Billy Slater refused to open up on the tackle in his post-match press conference, repeatedly shutting down questions about the send-off.
“You probably don’t want to know that,” Slater said when asked about his thoughts on the incident.
“I’ll keep my feelings about that (tackle) to myself,” he replied to another question.
Slater also refused to be drawn into speculating about whether NSW had deliberately targeted Walsh.
“I have no idea but I’ll keep my feelings about that to myself,” he replied.
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