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Jarome Luai has lit the fuse for Game II, warning State of Origin rookie Reece Walsh that he hasn’t forgotten about the Queensland man pulling his hair – and then running off.
Walsh was heavily scrutinised by the Blues at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday but the 20-year-old stood up to the task and dished out some retribution of his own in a famous 26-18 Maroons win.
Luai, though, was not a fan of Walsh’s off-the-ball antics. When the Blues No.6 was involved in a tackle on Queensland forward Reuben Cotter, Walsh grabbed the New South Welshman by his flowing locks.
Jarome Luai. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
As a fracas erupted, the Brisbane Broncos youngster hastily got out of the line of fire.
“He’s a bit weak, he couldn’t pull it out,” Luai said. “I knew it was him because he ran away too.
“He doesn’t want it … I’m ready for it, I love that stuff. If you’re going to do that and run then that says a lot about who you are.”
It’s the second time this year the Panthers man has had his hair yanked by an opposing player.
His NSW teammate Tyson Frizell bluntly told Luai to “get a hair tie” after being penalised for a hair pull in April’s Newcastle-Penrith game.
Luai had two try assists in the series opener but his performance will be among those under the spotlight ahead of Game II at Suncorp Stadium on June 21 with the series on the line.
NSW’s attack lacked fluency at Adelaide Oval – two of their three tries came by picking up balls dropped by Queensland – and Luai was frustrated the Blues did not exploit the injury-ravaged Maroons when they were reduced to 12 and had Ben Hunt defending at centre.
“I call for the ball all game, I want the ball,” Luai said.
“I saw there was a mismatch and they were in some disarray but we couldn’t get it right. They got a lot of good ball at the end, and that’s Origin footy. Our attack wasn’t the best but it’s not always going to be brilliant clean footy. I thought we got enough points on the board.”
Walsh thrived on being targeted by a NSW Blues outfit he said “think they own the game”.
Reece Walsh. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
He was peppered with high balls by Nathan Cleary and caught them all. Josh Addo-Carr came for him with a swinging arm when he was on the ground. It was water off a duck’s back to Walsh.
“They were always going to come (for me). They think they are better than everyone down there in blue,” he said. “They think they own the game. I took the challenge on. Queensland, these boys … Billy (Slater) and the whole coaching staff made it easy for me.
“I knew I had to go out there and do my job. That’s it. I didn’t look too far. I didn’t look too short. I just had to go out and be Reece Walsh.”
The rookie Origin fullback set up winger Selwyn Cobbo for his second try with a no-look cutout pass and was involved in his Broncos teammate’s first in a classy all-round display.
Walsh said being coached by Slater in the leadup was key to his success.
“He’s the greatest fullback to play the game and spent countless hours with me talking positional play and where I can pop up on the field,” Walsh said.
“There were little things about my positioning, where I use my energy, being smart on the field … all the small things.
“He was a really detailed fullback. He is a really detailed coach. He is a really good person and cares about you. You don’t want to let him down.”
Slater returned the compliments, with plenty of praise for the debutant. “The young lad at fullback has so much substance to his game outside of the highlights,” the Queensland coach said.
“We all love seeing Reece Walsh pull the trigger on a pass, his blistering speed or his involvement in the game … but he is building a foundation to his game that is going to hold him in good stead for a long period of time. That’s what I have seen. That is what I have liked and that is why he is here.
“He is a quality player and a good young man. He has a big future ahead of him.”
© AAP
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