- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai has received death threats for his role in a fracas at the end of the second State of Origin match, brandishing his social media detractors as “idiots”.
Late in Queensland’s 32-6 defeat of NSW at Suncorp Stadium, Luai lost his cool with Maroons fullback Reece Walsh, who interfered with James Tedesco as the NSW No.1 chased a kick to the line.
The pair came together and head-butted one another, leading referee Ashley Klein to send both men from the field.
NSW winger Josh Addo-Carr followed them to the sin bin for entering the fray and throwing a punch.
Luai and Walsh have been charged with grade-two striking by the match review committee and must each pay 23 per cent of their match fee, while Addo-Carr has been ordered to pay 10 per cent for the lesser grade-one striking charge.
On Thursday morning, Luai caused a stir on social media when he addressed the incident in an Instagram story, writing: “Chill, All you idiots have work tomorrow morning” followed by a string of cry-laughing emojis.
Luai’s post was interpreted as a taunt to Origin fans, but the Penrith premiership-winner has since told Blues coach Brad Fittler he was responding to those who had sent him social-media death threats following the head-butting incident. Fittler confirmed this to media after touching down in Sydney on Thursday.
After the game, Luai denied Walsh had gotten under his skin.
“It was just a bit of passion,” Luai said of the incident.
“I’m a bit of a sore loser as well so I was just disappointed. I just hate to lose.
“I don’t get baited. I’m a professional and I know there’s a line always on the field. They won the game, so good on them.”
The melee came after Luai accused Walsh of pulling his hair in the first game of the series, and a captain’s challenge earlier in Origin II that led to the bunker penalising Walsh for a high shot on the NSW man.
The chance to get one over Walsh will be on Luai’s mind ahead of game three.
“It’s a good rivalry we have now,” Luai said.
“If you get the opportunity to play Origin, you’ve always got something to play for, someone to play for.”
Walsh holds Luai in high regard despite the pair’s recent history of on-field spats.
“It was two passionate players who wear their hearts on their sleeves who would do anything for their mates and their state,” Walsh told AAP.
“I respect Jarome as a player. He makes the game interesting. I love watching him play and I love having those battles. It brings out the character in people.”
Walsh expects to feel the full force of the Sydney crowd on July 12.
“You’re always going to get that extra love when you’re in someone else’s backyard, in their territory. It’s going to be a good challenge for the boys,” he said.
Once a fleet-footed fullback himself, Queensland coach Billy Slater has warned Walsh bigger, stronger players will continue to target him in the Origin arena.
“He’s got to learn to accept that that’s coming at him for the next 15 years,” Slater said.
Walsh is ready for the extra attention, though.
“If you don’t want to get challenged and you don’t want to have that adversity and try and be better, you’re probably in the wrong sport,” he said.
with AAP
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.