'He got me flush': Reece Walsh and Joseph Suaalii break silence after brutal Origin hit
The two players involved in the most explosive moment from State of Origin I have broken their silence on the ugly incident.
Blues debutant Joseph Suaalii caught Queensland fullback Reece Walsh high with his shoulder and was sent off the field just seven minutes into the contest at Accor Stadium.
The clash left Walsh unconscious on the turf and ended his night due to category one concussion symptoms.
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Suaalii is now facing a four or five-week suspension and will almost certainly be unavailable for Origin II.
Walsh fronted Nine's Today cameras outside the team hotel on Thursday morning and was sporting a shiner under one of his eyes.
Reece Walsh speaks after being knocked out by Joseph Suaalii. Nine
"He got me flush on the chin I think," Walsh said.
"It's all part of the game, it was a good hit. Just got to keep rolling with the punches.
"I don't really want to comment too much on that (punishment for Suaalii) side, I'll let other people take care of that.
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"At the end of the day you make a decision and you've got to live with it."
Shortly after Walsh spoke to Nine, Suaalii spoke to media outside the team hotel.
It was the young centre's first foray into Origin football and it was one of the most unfortunate debuts in the contest's history.
"Obviously a bit disappointed – I let my fans, my state and especially my teammates down," he said.
"That's probably the toughest thing about it. Gotta move on from it now."
Suaalii said he had been well supported by teammates in the aftermath.
"Every single person in the team, the staff, we've created a brotherhood and that definitely showed yesterday.
"I didn't mean it at all, I just went in to tackle him and accidentally took his head.
"I hope he's doing all right, I hope he's doing well, but I didn't mean to hit him in the head."
Suaalii said he didn't try to reach out to Walsh last night, but intended to do so.
Origin I 2024 in pictures: Heartwarming moment between Reece Walsh and daughter, moments after horrific knock out
Origin I 2024 in pictures: Heartwarming moment between Reece Walsh and daughter, moments after horrific knock out
Queensland overcame the Walsh loss to beat the 12-man Blues 38-10 in Sydney.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was moved from centre to fullback and scored a hat-trick in the absence of his regular No.1.
Selwyn Cobbo came off the bench to fill in at centre and was one of the best players on the field.
"He's a freak, mate," Walsh said of Tabuai-Fidow.
"I said to (coach) Billy (Slater) 'just give me one more chance mate, please'... it's really good.
"We get all the little details right. He filled in and he did an amazing job. We always keep adapting.
"Adversity comes and we take it in our stride."
Game two is in Melbourne on June 26.
