Queensland great sprays NSW star in wild Origin sideline eruption

A Queensland assistant coach lost his cool after an explosive Origin incident and delivered a devastating four-word message to a sent off star.

Nate Myles wasn’t happy with Joseph Suaali’i.

Queensland assistant coach Nate Myles delivered an ice-cold five-world spray in the direction of Joseph Sua’ali’i when he left the field on Wednesday night.

Sua’ali’i’s devastating hit on Maroons full back Reece Walsh sucked the life out of the game and Maroons great Myles gave him both barrels as he left the field.

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The sledge directed towards the soon to be rugby union player were “enjoy your f***ing debut”, according to the Daily Telegraph while the SMH reported the spray was “I hope you enjoyed your debut”.

It was also reported an NRL official stepped in to give a warning to Myles, who was sitting on Queensland’s interchange bench when he delivered the spray.

Myles was asked about the incident following the Maroons 38-10 victory at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.

“He didn’t say anything back to me. It’s what happens,” he said.

“We were just concerned for the welfare of our player. You could tell by his reaction after the contact that he got it wrong.”

You can watch the Myles incident in the video player at the top of the page

Nate Myles wasn’t happy with Joseph Suaali’i.

It was all happening on the sideline.

The State of Origin series opener flipped on its head just seven minutes into the game when Sua’ali’i came out from his defensive line and hit Walsh flush in the head with his shoulder.

The Queensland fullback’s head rippled back and he fell to the turf, where he lay dazed for several moments.

Referee Ashley Klein sent Sua’ali’i off and the Blues had to play out nearly the entire game with just 12 men.

Klein said: “I don’t want you to say a word. Very dangerous action, it’s direct contact to the head with the shoulder – you’re off. Direct contact with the head.”

Myles played 32 Origin games during Queensland’s dominant run of eight consecutive series wins between 2006 and 2013.

He is part of Billy Slater’s assistant coaching team, along with Josh Hannay, Johnathan Thurston and Matt Ballin.

Walsh went down the tunnel and showed Category 1 concussion symptoms. He played no further part of the game.

The Queensland coach expertly contained his emotion when asked mid-match about the brutal charge which all but ended Origin I as a contest – and the nights of both players.

“You probably don’t want to know that,” Slater said, when asked by Channel 9 for his thoughts on the incident.

Slater engaged in a tense exchange with a reporter over the hit at his post-match press conference.

Selwyn Cobbo’s inclusion on the bench was made to look like a genius call by Slater and 18th man Felise Kaufusi was activated.

Sua’ali’i joins Craig Greenhill (1996), Gorden Tallis (2000), Trent Waterhouse (2009), Jarome Luai and Walsh himself (both 2023) on the infamous list of players to have been sent off in Origin.

The brutal hit that changed Game 1. Photo: NRL Photos / Brett Costello

Slater came down from the coaches box to the bench to deliver instructions to Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who moved to fullback in Walsh’s absence.

The Hammer had a blinder, scoring a hat-trick to take his Origin try tally to seven from just five games.

Queensland ran away with a dominant 38-10 victory in Game 1 to be just one win away from a series hat-trick under Slater.

The remaining two games are in Melbourne and Brisbane.

Walsh will miss his next two games for the Broncos, but is expected to be fine to play Game 2 at the MCG in three weeks.

The 21-year-old returned to the bench and appeared in good spirits, holding his daughter and chatting to teammates.

Originally published as Queensland great sprays NSW star in wild Origin sideline eruption