NRL 2021: Daniel Suluka-Fifita charged as Jai Arrow opens up on punch

Jai Arrow rated it a “one out of 10” punch but it’s still set to cost Roosters youngster Daniel Suluka-Fifita a stint on the sideline.

Daniel Suluka-Fifita has words with Jai Arrow of the Rabbitohs after being sent to the sin-bin. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Roosters’ playing stocks have suffered another blow with young forward Daniel Suluka-Fifita facing a two-game suspension after being charged by the NRL match review committee.

Suluka-Fifita has been slapped with a grade one striking charge after punching Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow in the back of the head during Friday night’s match.

The 21-year-old Rooster was sin-binned for ‘rabbit punching’ Arrow while he was being held on the ground.

Suluka-Fifita can escape with a one-match ban with an early guilty plea.

Meanwhile, Dragons centre Jack Bird is facing a minimum one-match ban for a contrary conduct charge after lashing out with his boot at Sea Eagles’ rival Moses Suli.

Bird will miss one game with an early guilty plea, or two if he fights the charge and is unsuccessful.

‘One out of 10’: Arrow rates that Roosters punch

It was a punch four months in the making.

But as for how Jai Arrow rated that short, right hand to the back of his head?

“Honestly, one out of 10,” the South Sydney enforcer laughed.

“And I’ll put my hand up, I milked it. But when I felt that fist come down on the back of my head, I thought ‘well, if he’s going to do that I may as well make him pay for it’.

“And I did. He got 10 in the bin He was pretty filthy too so I gave him a little smile and a little wave.”

Stood late on Friday night outside a jubilant Rabbitohs dressing room — a shed, apparently, where somewhere inside Hollywood heartthrob Chris Hemsworth was ripping off his shirt — Arrow happily opened up on a chaotic Sydney derby that not only saw him challenged by Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, or called out “a thousand times”, but also punched in the back of the melon by young bench forward Daniel Suluka-Fifita.

Daniel Suluka-Fifita of the Roosters has words with Jai Arrow of the Rabbitohs after being sent to the sin-bin. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

While the Roosters No.17 was sin binned for the first half incident, and now likely faces a suspension, Arrow insisted he had no problem with the Tricolours seeking revenge, Dirty Harry style, for that now infamous incident involving himself and Roosters fullback James Tedesco last November during Origin III.

Back when the Queensland forward didn’t simply lift a concussed Tedesco off the ground, but then thrust the NSW No.1, at speed, back into the turf.

A moment for which in the hours and days that followed, the Rabbitohs recruit apologised several times, stressing he had no idea Teddy was out when he touched him.

Regardless, it’s now apparent the Roosters have waited all summer to get revenge.

“And I respect that they came out and were aggressive,” he said

“I expected no less.”

Jai Arrow’s treatment of James Tedesco in Origin last year had the Roosters players seeking revenge.

But as for expecting a punch – albeit a one out of 10 – after being tackled?

“I wasn’t expecting that but I was ready for a lot,” he said.

“And I’d thought if it was going to happen, then I was going to try and restrict myself to not do anything so that they got sin binned.

“And I got one off, so that was nice.

“(Laughs) Although I think I heard my name called 1000 times out there. But it’s all in good fun.

“As soon as Hargreaves got on, he was the one who sort of ruffed me up in the scrum there.

“And after what went on last year (with Tedesco), you know, they’re his teammates, you’re always going to look after your teammates and I respect that. That’s footy.

“At the end of the game I’m happy to shake their hands and wish them all the best for the rest of the season, which I did.”

Jai Arrow had a running battle with the Roosters on Friday night. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Better, Arrow got to meet both Souths owner Russell Crowe and Hemsworth, who after watching the match from Gladiator’s Stadium Australia suite, then headed downstairs to celebrate with the team afterwards.

Which, apparently, involved Thor removing his shirt.

“And Chris Hemsworth is actually my man crush,” he laughed.

“So when he lifted up his shirt, I had to look away. I was falling in love with him. Was going to leave my missus for him.

“I was like a 10-year-old kid in there walking past my idol.”

So as for what was said?

“I went up, shook hands, got a photo and said ‘thanks for coming along, appreciate it’,” Arrow continued.

“He just said ‘nah, thanks for having me’. Then I introduced myself to Rusty. I hadn’t actually met him before. It was really enjoyable.”

When pressed on whether this game would put a full stop on his Roosters beef, Arrow said he hoped it would.

“I suppose so,” Arrow shrugged.

“I’ve left it in the past and have done all I can to apologise. And I am very remorseful for what I did. That’s not me as a person.

“Obviously I didn’t know and would never do that (deliberately). And no one said anything to me after the game. They were all good about it.

“We’re all pretty good now.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Daniel Suluka-Fifita charged as Jai Arrow opens up on punch