Furious Queensland team slam Channel Nine over two seconds of footage in State of Origin ad: ‘It’s inappropriate and totally wrong’
- Channel Nine uses late hit on Reece Walsh to promote Origin II
- Queensland Maroons officials are furious with the broadcaster
- Joseph Sua’ali’i has been suspended for four matches after an incident with Walsh
Furious Queensland Maroons officials have criticized Channel Nine over the broadcaster’s decision to use Joseph Sua’ali’i’s late hit on Reece Walsh from the series opener in an ad to promote Origin II at the MCG.
Sua’ali’i was sent off just seven minutes into Origin 1 after knocking out Walsh when his shoulder collided with the Queensland fullback’s head.
The rugby star was banned for four matches, but that didn’t stop Channel Nine from reminding viewers of the sickening incident ahead of Wednesday’s match.
“I think it’s inappropriate and completely wrong,” Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher told the BBC Sydney Morning Herald.
‘There were plenty of other tackles they could have used. I hated that photo on the front page of the newspaper the next day [after game one] as Reece’s eyes rolled into the back of his head.
Queensland officials have criticized Channel 9 over the broadcaster’s decision to use Joseph Sua’ali’i’s late hit on Reece Walsh from the series opener in an ad to promote Origin II at the MCG (pictured, Maroons coach Billy Slater)
NSW Blues center Joseph Sua’ali’i was sent off just seven minutes into Origin 1 after taking down Reece Walsh (pictured) when his shoulder collided with the Queensland fullback’s head
Queensland can wrap up the Origin series if they win game two at the MCG (pictured centre, skipper Daly Cherry-Evans)
Blues five-eighth Jarome Luai confirmed Reece Walsh is likely to be targeted again ahead of Wednesday’s match
“If we condone any action that takes these types of people out of the game, then I think the game is a shocking loser.”
It comes as Blues confirmed five-eighth Jarome Luai ahead of Wednesday’s must-win match. Walsh will likely be targeted again.
“I think he’s a great player, so if you’re one of those great players, there’s going to be a target on your back no matter what,” he said Monday.
“It’s not anyone’s intention to physically hurt someone the way he was hurt, but I think from a defensive perspective you have to have that mentality on someone that’s that fast and that skilled or he’s going to hurt you.
“You can’t go for 50 percent or something like that. At the end of the day, that’s Origin footy, things happen at 100 miles per hour. It is a contact sport.
‘He is a dangerous man if you give him that space and time. “We’re going to try to limit him as much as possible by sticking to our systems and not much will change.”
Luai’s ominous warning comes after NSW coach Michael Maguire angrily refused calls after the series opener Sua’ali’i’s goal was deliberate.
He went on to suggest that ‘Queensland lived in glass houses.’
It was widely interpreted as a dig at Slater, given the number of indiscretions he had during his playing career.
NSW must win game two in Melbourne to keep the series alive – with the Blues lifting the Interstate Trophy for the last time in 2021.