BY JOHN DAVIDSON
It was a send-off. There is no debate about it.
The fastest red card in State of Origin history, when debutant Joseph Sua’ali’i drove his shoulder into Reece Walsh’s head, was the correct call by referee Ashley Klein.
All the bleating about “Origin is different”, “this is what Origin is built on” and “the ref is corrupt” is utter nonsense. Rugby league has changed. You just can’t blatantly hit blokes in the head anymore.
Yes, everyone loves Origin’s history of brawling and fighting – Beetson vs Cronin, Harrigan vs Bella, Gallen vs Myles, etc etc etc. It was brutal and bloody. It was essential viewing.
But in the era of concussion, when we know all about CTE, dementia and the severe impact on the brain head injuries have, foul play has to be dealt with severely. We can’t be negligent. End of story.
You can argue whether Sua’ali’i’s shoulder was deliberate or not, about the height difference between the two players (19 cm), whether Walsh slipped slightly and was crouching as he passed the ball. Argue about it all until the cows come home.
But the simple reality is it was late and Sua’ali’i has the duty of care not to smash Walsh in the head. He didn’t, Walsh was taken out of the game and that’s why he had to go. Klein made the right decision.
Rugby league has evolved. Many might not like it, and hark for the Tommy Raudonikis days, or the Gorden Tallis era. Of fights and shoulder charges, brawls and biffs, swinging arms and clotheslines.
But it’s gone. Like the 20th century, fax machines and Walkmans, it’s been consigned to history. Done and dusted.
You can’t and you won’t bring it back. If you don’t like it, watch UFC or old games on YouTube, or invent your own time machine.
The real truth is that rugby league, and Origin, can be just as entertaining, tough and riveting without the brain injuries and high shots.
Look at Selywn Cobbo GI-like swatting off Zac Lomax to score a try. Lomax soaring high to cross in the second half. The monster tackle by Liam Martin into Xavier Coates. The Hammer’s electric ball-running. Reece Robson’s outstanding try-saving tackle. Another massive hit by Martin on 65 minutes. All legal, all great.
Origin doesn’t have to have foul play and life-threatening head trauma to be riveting. If you think it does, you might need a CAT scan.
The Sua’ali’i send off didn’t ruin Game I.
Queensland were smart in the way they exploited their extra-man advantage. NSW were valiant in the way they hung in the contest and gave it everything. The Blues were brave and not embarrassed.
It was a fascinating contest. NSW were out on their feet, and a few times looked to have Queensland in trouble, until the Maroons magiced up some late tries by Cobbo, Ben Hunt and Daly Cherry-Evans. The scoreline blew out and it was vintage from the likes of DCE and co. Having 12 men for 73 minutes was just far too much for Madge’s men.
However, there is still all left to play for in Game II.
The takeaway is clear though – Origin has changed, head shots are not OK and some of us need to adapt to that fact.
