- Reece Walsh has shared his thoughts on Joseph Sua’ali’i
- Wallabies star knocks out Walsh in Origin Game I
- But Walsh says he has huge respect for the NSW star
Reece Walsh has buried the hatchet with his NSW rival Joseph Sua’ali’i after the pair’s brutal clash during State of Origin Game I.
Wallabies star Sua’ali’i saw his dream Origin debut turn into a nightmare just seven minutes into this year’s opening match, when the Roosters were sent off after he flattened Walsh to the grass.
Broncos star Walsh was sidelined with concussion, but Queensland went on to win the match 38-10.
The Blues fought back to win the series, but Sua’ali’i sat out the final two games due to his four-game suspension for the nasty blow.
However, he did play a part in the Blues’ extended training squad and was present for the deciding match in Brisbane, where NSW secured a famous victory on enemy soil.
Post-final video footage showing Walsh and Sua’ali’i sharing a heartwarming moment with the full-back’s daughter went viral, racking up hundreds of thousands of views on social media.
Walsh has now revealed what was said between the two men, and he had only positive things to say about his interlocutor.
“He’s a top class player and a top class person,” Walsh said via news.com.au.
Reece Walsh has revealed what he really thinks of NSW rival Joseph Sua’ali’i
‘He just came to see how I was doing and wished me all the best for the rest of the year, as I did to him.
“He’s a great guy. It’s football. You want to go out there and make your state and yourself and your family proud. Things happen.”
The incident led to an exchange of words between Origin coaches Billy Slater and Michael Maguire, but Walsh was reluctant to get involved in the verbal spat.
“Like I said before, that’s football, and you go out there and you want to make your state proud,” Walsh said. “You want to make yourself and your family proud, and things happen.
Walsh was knocked out by the Roosters star in the first match of Origin
“I think you journalists and everyone in the media are blowing things out of proportion.
“I understand that’s your job, but at the end of the day, we’re two young men going out on the field and playing football. We want to make a difference for our teams. And then things happen.”
“It was a beautiful moment.”
Sua’ali’i apologized deeply for his part in the incident, saying he was “disappointed that he (let down) my family, my state and my teammates.”
He said, ‘I didn’t mean that at all, I just went there to tackle (Walsh).’
‘I accidentally hit his head and I hope he’s okay.
“I haven’t contacted him yet, but I definitely will.”