Blues star apologises for hit on Walsh as Maroons legends claim young gun was targeted (2024)

Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i insists his knockout tackle on Reece Walsh was purely accidental, apologising to the whole of NSW after being sent off less than eight minutes into his State of Origin debut.

Amid accusations from Queensland that the Blues had deliberately set out to hurt Walsh, Sua'ali'i was left facing a four-game ban after his hit collected the Maroons fullback flush on the cheek.

Maroons great Johnathan Thurston claimed NSW had gone out to target Walsh, with Sua'ali'i getting his tackle all wrong in the early stages of Queensland's 38-10 victory in Sydney.

It leaves rugby union-bound Sua'ali'i facing up to the prospect he may have played his first and last game for his state.

Sua'ali'i's ban will rub him out of game two in Melbourne while Origin III appears unlikely given he won't feature in any club matches before NSW coach Michael Maguire names his team for the final fixture in the series.

The Sydney Roosters star was shielded from the media in the immediate aftermath of the loss, but told reporters on Thursday morning he was "disappointed at letting my family, my state and my teammates (down)".

"I didn't mean that at all, I just went there to go and tackle (Walsh)," Sua'ali'i said.

"I accidentally clipped his head and I hope he is doing all right.

"I haven't reached out to him yet but it's something I'll do."

Sua'ali'i could have his ban beefed up to five games if he fights the grade-two reckless contact charge at the NRL judiciary and loses.

Blues players were sympathetic to Sua'ali'i's plight after the 20-year-old became just the sixth player in Origin history to be sent off.

Prop Payne Haas, who plays club football with Walsh at Brisbane, was understanding as Sua'ali'i attempted to leave his mark.

"I thought Reece slipped into it," Haas said.

"I hope Walshy's all right, he's my teammate at my club, so I hope he's all right.

"(But) I feel sorry for Joey, it's a bit of a hard one. We've all got his back and I'm sure he'll be back.

"I'm not sure what he's supposed to do there to pull out."

Fellow centre Stephen Crichton added: "I tried to connect with (Sua'ali'i) once I came back inside … He just got his angles and that all wrong.

"He was going out there to make a play. Reece probably slipped a bit as well. He was on his way down."

'They clearly had a target on (Walsh)'

Queensland assistant coach Thurston accused NSW of putting a target on Walsh.

"Everyone has seen it and it was unfortunate for Sua'ali'i making his debut," Maroons great Thurston said.

• Watch on ABC Sport Facebook: Blues and Maroons react to hit on Reece Walsh

"It was direct, forceful contact to the head and they clearly had a target on (Walsh) … the officials had no other option."

Queensland team manager Nate Myles — who played 32 Origin games for the Maroons — gave Sua'ali'i a spray as he left the field, telling the NSW man to "enjoy your debut".

Myles said the Blues muffed their tactical ploy to nullify Walsh, who was hit hard on the ground by forward Liam Martin just minutes before the Sua'ali'i incident.

"(Sua'ali'i) got it wrong and … it's not a good look for the game," Myles said.

"Controlled aggression is key now. Controlled aggression isn't hitting the right spot every time, it's what you do on every play.

"A good side sticks to their tactics and doesn't get it wrong.

"That play on Reece out the back, they didn't get it right."

Myles said he wasn't suggesting Walsh needed to be wrapped in cotton wool.

"No one needs protecting, it's rugby league, but there's rules in place," he said.

"We want the game to prosper. It's going terrific, but we have to look after players and keep them on the field.

"When (Walsh) came back to the bench, I knew he was OK, but there's a safety protocol and there's a reason why guys don't play back-to-back games anymore.

"It would have been good to see a young man like Reece go at the game."

Maroons flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow switched from centre to fullback when Walsh went off and had a blinder, scoring three tries.

The 'Hammer' was stunned by the Sua'ali'i hit and said the Blues centre got what he deserved.

"It is a bad one, straight to the head," Tabuai-Fidow said.

"It is something we are trying to get out of the game to protect the players. He's alright now.

"I wasn't surprised at all. I watched it back on the big screen and it was straight to the head. We all knew he was going to get sent off."

Walsh would not be drawn on the incident when asked about on Channel Nine on Thursday morning.

"He got me flush on the chin, it's all part of the game. So it was a good hit and just got to keep rolling with the punches," he said.

"At the end of the day, you know, you make a decision and you just got to live with it."

A 'career-defining moment' for Sua'ali'i

Retired NSW State of Origin representative Josh Mansour said he doubted whether Sua'ali'i would return to the NRL once his contract with Rugby Australia and the Waratahs expired.

Sua'ali'i will switch codes at the end of the NRL season, having signed a deal with rugby union that will take him through until the end of 2027.

Mansour said Wednesday night's incident might dissuade Sua'ali'i from returning to rugby league.

"What a career-defining moment for Joseph," he told ABC NRL Daily.

"He's going to rugby union now and I'm sure he will think twice [about coming back] to the NRL because of that one moment.

"It's sad to say but I'm sure it's going to be in the back of his mind every time, and every time somewhere hears [the name] Joseph Sua'ali'i, they will think about that actual moment in Origin.

"It's sad to say but hopefully we get Joseph when he finishes his stint [in] rugby union."

Mansour said it was "only fair" for referee Ashley Klein to send off Sua'ali'i.

When making his decision on the field, Klein told Sua'ali'i his attempt to tackle was a "very dangerous action".

"I know it was a big pivotal moment, it definitely changed the game [and] the series but unfortunately it was the right decision," he said.

Mansour said critics of Klein's decision must look at the bigger picture, as the NRL needed to clamp down on players making contact with the head of an opponent.

"We put Origin on this pedestal for its contact, its big hits, the blood but I'm sorry, the game's changing," he said.

"We want to keep kids, keep players coming into the game. Participation levels have dropped off the back of concussion. There is no secret about that.

"I know there has to be a level of contact … we have to have that. At the end of the day, the duty of care is first for the players. We want to keep players on the field."

AAP/ABC