‘Disgusted in myself’: NRL star’s sad Instagram post after sickening hit

Corey Harawira-Naera has made an emotional apology as the NRL came down on him hard for a sickening hit that saw him sent off.

Jahrome Hughes checks his mouth after being hit high on Thursday night. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Canberra forward Corey Harawira-Naera has been hit with a four-game ban by the NRL judiciary after a hit on Melbourne Storm’s Jahrome Hughes described as “one of the worst” of the season.

Harawira-Naera was slapped with a grade 3 reckless high tackle charge for his hit on Hughes and could miss only three games with an early plea because of his seven-year incident free discount

The Raiders back-rower was sensationally sent from the field in the final minutes for the high shot in Melbourne’s thrilling 26-16 win over Canberra.

Hughes was concussed and didn’t play out the game.

Harawira-Naera posted an apology on social media and said he was “disgusted in myself” for the heavy hit.

“In all my days of playing this game of rugby league, I have never left the field feeling so disgusted in myself to the point where I had sat in the sheds and balled my eyes out for a good five minutes,” he posted on Instagram.

“The picture I have in my head of when I first looked up after the collision of your eyes rolled to back to your head and your body stiff bro @jahromehughes and being the cause of it gave me a feeling I never want to feel again or would never want anyone else to feel.

“What happen (sic) last night I wouldn’t wish upon my biggest enemy and struggling to sleep last night hopefully shows how remorseful and sorry I am my bro, and I have what’s coming to me when it comes to judiciary and will serve the time I have to.

“All love my bro and I hope to see you back to full health firstly and back on the field in no time bro.”

Canberra Raider Corey Harawira-Naera issues an apology on Instagram

Harawira-Naera became the second Canberra player to be sent off this season – Josh Papalii was marched during Magic Round at the start of the NRL’s mid-season blitz – after felling the Storm halfback in the final minutes of Thursday night’s match.

An update on Jahrome from Jahrome. pic.twitter.com/B3pPsCIyCK

— Melbourne Storm 🏆 (@storm) August 13, 2021

The apologetic 26-year-old rushed out of the line and clattered his Kiwi teammate, who was escorted from the field dazed after the incident.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said Hughes couldn’t remember anything from the game.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said his star forward deserved to be sent off.

“If he has hit him in the head, yes, but it is not in Corey’s makeup to hurt someone like that,” Stewart said.

“It is a collision game, and he has come in very fast. It would have been an error in judgment of contact, but it’s not something he would have went out to do.”

In a social media post, Hughes, who was concussed, said it was “just a very unlucky and unfortunate event”.

Former Storm halfback Cooper Cronk declared it “one of the worst we’ve seen” in commentary for Fox League.

“I know he’s trying to change momentum for his team, but he’s clearly got that wrong,” he said.

“He’s going to spend a long, long time on the sidelines.”

Originally published as ‘Disgusted in myself’: NRL star’s sad Instagram post after sickening hit