‘Enjoy your f**king debut’: Queensland assistant coach Nate Myles doubles down on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii spray

Queensland assistant coach and former Maroon Nate Myles has been addressed directly by the NRL over his expletive-laden verbal attack on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, after the NSW debutant was sent-off.

Nate Myles blasts Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

The NRL has spoken with Queensland assistant coach Nate Myles on Thursday following his expletive-laden verbal attack on NSW debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii which lit the fuse for the rest of the series.

Myles was addressed directly by the NRL for his comments which included the ex-Maroons star telling Suaalii to “enjoy your f***ing debut” on three occasions after the rookie Blues centre was sensationally sent off for a sickening high shot on Reece Walsh in Origin I on Wednesday night.

The incident was included as part of the ground manager’s post-game report. It is unlikely that Myles will receive any further sanction.

Suaalii became just the sixth player in Origin history to be given his marching orders and the rugby-bound flyer faces a four-game suspension, which would rule him out of Game Two at the MCG on June 26.

Nate Myles blasted Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Myles was given an official warning on the run by an NRL ground manager for clashing with Suaalii as he left the field. Myles only stopped when the ground manager intervened with Suaalii within earshot of the Queensland bench as he retreated to the dressing room. Suaalii heard Myles’ spray. He stopped, turned at the former Queensland forward before leaving.

The Maroons legend said the NSW young gun deserved to be dismissed.

“He got it wrong and it’s unfortunate, it’s not a good look for the game,” said Myles, who played 32 Origin games for Queensland.

“If you aren’t good enough to be able to fire that every time, you have to control it.

“Controlled aggression is key now. Controlled aggression isn’t hitting the right spot every time, it’s what you do on every play.

“A good side sticks to their tactics and doesn’t get it wrong.

“That play on the Reece out the back, they didn’t get it right and it’s an unfortunate look for the game.”

In March, Walsh suffered a facial fracture after a heavy collision with Penrith centre Taylan May, who controversially escaped suspension after an incident that had Broncos coach Kevin Walters seeing red.

This time, Maroons coach Billy Slater was equally livid, to the point where he held his tongue when asked if the Suaalii hit warranted a send off.

“I will keep my feelings about that to myself,” he said.

Pressed on whether the Blues had deliberately targeted Walsh, Slater added: “I have no idea, but I will keep my feelings to myself. What did you think?”

His NSW counterpart Michael Maguire was surprised by the decision and said it was a “massive call” to make so early in an Origin series.

Myles, an Origin hardman who never pulled punches as a player, didn’t hold back on Suaalii and scoffed at suggestions Walsh needs more protection.

“No, no one needs protecting, it’s rugby league, but there’s rules in place,” he said.

“We want the game to prosper, it’s going terrific, but we have to look after players and keep them on the field.

“I don’t move as fast as Suaalii, but it happened and it’s not good.

“When he (Walsh) came back to the bench, I knew he was OK, but there’s a safety protocol and there’s a reason why guys don’t play back-to-back games anymore.

“It would have been good to see a young man like Reece go at the game.”

Suaalii’s send off was just the sixth in Origin history. Picture: NRL Photos

Asked what Myles said to Suaalii in the seconds after the NSW rookie was sent off by referee Ashley Klein, Myles said with a wry grin: “I can’t remember … I’ve had too many head knocks.”

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans said the Suaalii send off was justified.

“I think it was a send off,” he said.

“I don’t think we have to pick it apart either. These things happen. I’m sure it was a mistake, I hope it was a mistake.

“Reece was all right and we just moved on, it’s as simple as that.”

Cherry-Evans’ five-eighth partner Tom Dearden applauded Klein’s strong stance.

“When you look at the replay of that tackle, it was a send off any day of the week,” he said.

“The intent was there.

“We lost ‘Walshy’ for the whole game, we had to move on and adapt to what was in front of us.”

Originally published as ‘Enjoy your f**king debut’: Queensland assistant coach Nate Myles doubles down on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii spray