Nine scraps Suaalii tackle from Origin ad after NRL complaint

Channel Nine have scrapped footage of Joseph Suaalii’s illegal tackle on Reece Walsh from its Origin promotion after the NRL informed them on Tuesday it was “not in the best interests of the game”.

Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher was unhappy Nine had included footage of Walsh about to be knocked out to help generate interest in Wednesday’s second game in Melbourne.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo contacted Nine on Tuesday and asked the broadcaster to remove the tackle from its promotional material.

Abdo told this masthead: “Because it was an illegal and dangerous tackle, I didn’t believe it was in the best interests of the game, nor fair on the injured player, to show [that tackle].

Nine confirmed it had since deleted the tackle footage.

Host TV broadcaster Nine, the owner of this masthead, rolled out the first of its TV commercials over the weekend.

A screengrab of State of Origin II promotion showing Reece Walsh being taken out by Joseph Suaalii in game one in Sydney.Credit: Nine

Ten seconds into the 50-second ad, slow-motion footage of Suaalii lining up Walsh appears, before cutting away at the moment Walsh is hit in the head.

Suaalii was sent off for the tackle, suspended for four matches and will miss game two in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

The incident sparked a war of words on both sides in the countdown to the Melbourne Cricket Ground blockbuster.

Hatcher was glad Nine had taken swift action, and told this masthead on Tuesday: “That’s good news. The game is tough enough without carrying on with that bulls--t. It only does a great dis-service to the game.

Reece Walsh failed a head injury assessment after a high tackle by Joseph Suaalii.Credit: Getty

“If you did something similar on the street, you’d go to jail, so why would you allow it in our game that is already hard enough?”

Broadcaster Ray Hadley questioned Nine’s decision to include the Walsh tackle, and told his listeners on 2GB on Tuesday: “Stupidly, they included the lead-up to a tackle that saw a player sent from the field and another player knocked out of the game.

“I don’t know who made that decision, but they need to have a good long look at themselves. How does that help the image of the game?”

Hatcher on Monday asked why Nine used an illegal tackle that ended the night of one of the game’s brightest stars, rather than promote one of the many other legal tackles from the game.

“I think it’s inappropriate and totally wrong [to use that tackle],” Hatcher said. “There were plenty of other tackles they could have used. I hated that photo on the front page of the [Daily Telegraph] the next day [after game one] with Reece’s eyes rolled to the back of his head.

“I think Reece is a sensational talent. He’s a very different individual ... but if we condone any action that takes those sorts of people out of the game, then I think the game is a shocking loser.”

Suaalii was sent off in the seventh minute and walked to the sideline at Accor Stadium, Maroons’ assistant Nate Myles sprayed the youngster and told him, “I hope you enjoyed your debut.”

NSW coach Michael Maguire did not appreciate the attacks on Suaalii, and urged Queensland to “make sure you don’t live in glass houses”.

A second Nine promotion, targeting the Queensland market, finishes with the voiceover: “Queensland, let’s finish this.”

And a third commercial hails the bravery shown by NSW to compete as long as they did with 12 men, while labelling the Suaalii send-off as “the twist that left Australia in a state of shock”.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters was critical of the tackle at the time, and thought the four-match ban was not enough.

“I just want to make sure we’re protecting not just Reece but all our players, regardless of what stature you have in the game,” he said. “When you run out on the field, you want to make sure you’re safe.

“I’m sure NSW will be physical with him. He’s a target. But Reece will be fine. He’ll handle every bit of that. He’s as tough as nails. They breed them tough in Nerang.”