Jarome Luai defended his actions during one of the most controversial moments of the State of Origin decision, which saw the five-eighth Blues overtake a stunned Selwyn Cobbo.
The moment came in the middle of a fire start, with three players out of the game with concussion.
Cobbo was knocked unconscious after colliding with the hip of fellow Maroons teammate Patrick Carrigan in just the second minute.
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Luai, stood above Cobbo and unleashed a verbal bombardment as the winger’s teammates entered, with Josh Papali’i pushing the five-eighth, causing a sort of melee.
Jarome Luai faced the pain for this hot moment. (new)
Carrying a neck pain, the 20-year-old was finally removed from the ground with a medication and was ruled out for the rest of the match minutes later with a Category 1 headbutt.
The act was reported on social media, but Luai denied knowing he knew Cobbo was shocked and checked in at the wheel of the Broncos after the match.
“I didn’t really know I was knocked out,” the five-eighth said Thursday.
“But that’s Origin, things from the heat of the moment. I play with a lot of passion.
“I talked to him (Cobbo) after the game and it was all right, I was glad to see him.”
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When asked if he apologized to the Maroons star, Luai replied, “I don’t think I have anything to apologize for.
“There was no harm. I didn’t touch him.”
As for the fierce reaction from fans, the first-place winner said he is not bothered by claims that he is a “gob”.
“I’ve always been told that (grub),” the 25-year-old said.
“So these are sports fans and you have to keep in mind that they are not on the field.”
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While Cobbo was lying down, his teammate Lindsay Collins also had an early night, when he was knocked out by Tom Gilbert while the pair tried to face Daniel Tupou.
New South Wales lost Cameron Murray in the early exchanges, when he tried to face Corey Oates and clashed head-on with the Maroons winger.
“You’d have to go back a while to match that physicality, that intensity,” Cameron Smith said of the early carnage during Nine’s cover.
“We’re watching the first game and how fast it was, but I can’t say we’ve seen hits like tonight. It’s amazing.”
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