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Jarome Luai defended his actions during one of the most controversial moments in the State of Origin decider, which saw the Blues five-eighth stand over a groggy Selwyn Cobbo.
The moment came amid a fiery start, with three players rubbed out of the game with concussion.
Cobbo was knocked unconscious after colliding with the hip of Maroons teammate Patrick Carrigan in just the second minute.
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Luai, stood over Cobbo and unleashed a verbal barrage as the winger’s teammates rushed in, with Josh Papali’i shoving the five-eighth, sparking a melee of sorts.
Wearing a neck brace, the 20-year-old was eventually taken off the ground on a medicab and was ruled out for the remainder of the match minutes later with a category one head knock.
The act was denounced on social media but Luai denied he knew Cobbo was concussed and checked on the Broncos flyer after the match.
“I actually didn’t know he was knocked out,” the five-eighth said on Thursday.
“But that’s Origin, heat of the moment stuff. I play with a lot of passion.
“I spoke to him (Cobbo) after the game and he was all good, so good to see that.”
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When asked if he said sorry to the Maroons star, Luai responded: “I don’t think I have anything to apologise for.
“There wasn’t any harm. I didn’t touch him.”
As for the fierce reaction from fans, the premiership winner said he was unbothered by claims he’s a “grub”.
“They’ve always called me that (grub),” the 25-year-old said.
“So that’s the fans of the sport and you need to take into consideration they’re not out there on the field.”
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While Cobbo was stretchered off, teammate Lindsay Collins had an early night as well, when he was knocked out by Tom Gilbert as the pair attempted to tackle Daniel Tupou.
New South Wales lost Cameron Murray in the early exchanges, when he attempted to tackle Corey Oates and clashed heads with the Maroons winger.
“You’d have to go back quite some time to match this physicality, this intensity,” Cameron Smith said of the early carnage during Nine’s coverage.
“We’re seeing game one and how fast it was, but I can’t say we’ve seen the hits like we have tonight. It’s unbelievable.”
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