State of Origin descends into chaos with triple sending off in final seconds
It was all going so well in the State of Origin. One of the most violent and ill tempered contests in any sport was in the final minute of a match that had been incredibly clean and well mannered by its usual standard. Fast forward to full time and three players had been sent off following two head butts and one punch. They came so close.
With Queensland leading the match 32-6 against New South Wales, and therefore on the cusp of securing the series, NSW winger Josh Addo-Carr let out his frustration during a minor fracas. He punched 20-year-old Queensland star Reece Walsh clean on the jaw, who in turn head butted NSW five-eight Jarome Luai, who in turn head butted back.
This resulted in both head butters being sent off completely, while Addo-Carr was yellow carded. To make matters even frostier, Addo-Carr left the field holding his badge in front of the Brisbane crowd, while Walsh was celebrating with his teammates as he left the field.
Take a look at the fight:
Punches and HEADBUTTS fly as Origin II ends with a BANG! 🥊
🖥️ #Origin II | Exclusive on Channel 9 and 9Now: https://t.co/Bll2LnrWOR#9WWOS #NRL pic.twitter.com/Xjju4NoRcF
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) June 21, 2023
It was just a matter of seconds into the first match of the series and Addo-Carr was in the spotlight for a dubious shoulder drop onto the head of an opponent, so it is nothing short of miraculous that he was able to play almost 160 minutes of rugby before seeing yellow.
Footage has also emerged online since the end of the match showing Addo-Carr dropping a knee on an opponent in a tackle earlier in the match. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs winger clearly adopted the approach ‘if you can’t beat them, beat them up’ policy in the State of Origin, not that it served him or his team very well.
Take a look at the knee:
Miss this at the start, sly knee to the head Addo-carr is grade a Muppet #StateofOrigin pic.twitter.com/1w0DEnmjVT
— Hammers (@hammermcee) June 21, 2023
