Queensland officials blow up over Walsh detail in Origin ad

A decision by host broadcaster Channel 9 to use an infamous moment from Game 1 in a commercial hasn’t gone down well.

That Suaalii hit and Walsh in the aftermath. Photos: NRL Photos/News Corp

Channel 9 is the latest entity to ruffle Queensland feathers.

Various shots have been fired from south of the border ahead of State of Origin Game 2 in Melbourne, with Andrew Johns declaring Latrell Mitchell has “got inside the heads” of the Maroons and accusing Daly Cherry-Evans of a Game 1 “cheap shot”.

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Jarome Luai has also cheekily spruiked new halves partner Mitchell Moses as “what we needed after game one” in the lead-up to the MCG showdown.

Now the host broadcaster has managed to upset Queensland Rugby League (QRL) officials in its promotion of Wednesday’s game, as the SMH reports.

The Nine Network has released a series of commercials to promote the huge game, when the Blues will try to level the series, and one in particular has not gone down well in Queensland.

This incident has reignited concerns on both sides of the border. Photo: NRL Photos / Brett Costello

Around 10 seconds into a 50-second ad, footage is shown of Joseph Suaalii lining up Reece Walsh from game one.

As league fans all know, the Roosters centre wiped out the star fullback, with Suaalii ultimately rubbed out for four matches and Walsh forced to sit out the remainder of the game.

While the actual moment of impact is not shown in the commercial, QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher slammed the decision to use that incident to help drum up interest in Game 2.

“I think it’s inappropriate and totally wrong,” Hatcher told the newspaper.

“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 with Reece’s eyes rolled to the back of his head.

“The players are bigger, faster and tougher … they hit with a whole heap of force now, so I would err on the side of conservatism rather than (promoting) the gung-ho stuff.

“I see a big cross-section of people these days. I know if we’re going to promote that type of fringe behaviour, the game will perish through litigation.

Walsh was in a terrible state after the hit. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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

The second commercial reportedly ends with a message of “Queensland, let’s finish this” while the third lauds the bravery the Blues showed to battle on with 12 men for most of the match.

The tackle itself led to its own slinging match in the days afterwards, with a number of Queensland figures declaring it was premeditated and Blues coach Michael Maguire responding by saying some Maroons might be living in “glass houses”.

That was viewed as a sleight at Queensland coach Billy Slater’s own checkered history at the NRL Judiciary.

While Slater has largely stayed silent on the controversy, Queensland great Johnathan Thurston gave his thoughts the morning after Game 1.

Suaalii (centre) taking part in NSW training ahead of Game 2. Photo: Tim Hunter.

Maguire launched a staunch defence of Suaalii after the opening game. Photo: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

“They clearly had a target on him and it didn’t turn out right. The officials had no other option, really,” he said.

Maguire wasn’t having any of it, staunchly defending Suaalii, who he has invited into the NSW came for the second game.

“You’ve got to make sure that you don’t live in glass houses, that’s all I’ll say,” he said.

“Things happen on the field. Joey is a special human being, and for him to have to deal with that (criticism wasn’t on).

“He’ll be in and around the camp at some stage, but things happen on the field.

“It’s glass houses. Interesting.

“He’s my player, they’re my players. If you want to have a crack at our players, we’re about us and what we’re doing, and you’ve got to make sure that when you’re with your players that you look after them. That’s what I’m doing.”

Originally published as Queensland officials blow up over Walsh detail in Origin ad