In short:
Billy Slater said he believed Reece Walsh was being hit several times without the ball during the Origin decider.
Walsh was knocked out in a brutal hit during Origin I, which saw Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sent off.
What’s next?
Slater said he hopes the referees will review how they handled the treatment of Walsh during the series.
Reece Walsh continues to be hit illegally without the football and Queensland coach Billy Slater says match officials will have to review how they handled it during the State of Origin series.
Slater was speaking after the 14-4 loss in the Origin decider at Lang Park where he said fullback Walsh was again targeted without the ball.
The 22-year-old Brisbane fullback had ice packs on his back, side and other parts of his body in the dressing room after a match where he was brave in making 153m from 20 runs, but was physically pummelled.
Walsh appeared in discomfort at stages in the clash but soldiered on.
“I think he was certainly getting hit a fair bit without the footy,” Slater said.
Slater was asked if there was an ongoing issue with Walsh being attacked in a similar way through the series and how it was handled by match officials.
He was concussed after just seven minutes of the 38-10 win by the Maroons in game one after a high shot by NSW centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, which led to him being sent off.
“They will review their own game. I am sure they will look at that,” Slater said of the match officials.
“As I said, I think he was hit a little bit off the footy. It is State of Origin. I know what it is like and I understand what he is going through. It is just the way it is.”
Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans agreed with Slater’s opinion.
“Billy can speak from experience He has got a good view of what is going on at Origin level so if he is saying something is going on it is probably worth having a look at it,” he said.
“I have been through exactly what Reece has been through. You go through these periods where the opposition will try and come up with ways to stop you.
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“Knowing the person he is, he has got the work ethic and the ability to overcome it. I have got so much belief in Reece Walsh.
“I feel like his series this year, as (his) second year in (Origin), is where you have to figure out different ways to beat an opposition.”
Maroons utility Kalyn Ponga, who plays fullback for club side Newcastle, said he understood why Walsh had a target on him.
“It is probably a complement to him. They try and take him out of the game because he is so good,” Ponga said.
‘”You can’t do it illegally these days. He is obviously a threat and someone they identify but he is a tough little bugger.”
AAP
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