No bad blood, grudges or holding back: Luai, Walsh hold fire after Origin scuffle

Maroons fullback Reece Walsh and Blues five-eighth Jarome Luai have played down the prospect of lingering bad blood in Origin III after they were sent off in Queensland's series clinching win.

Walsh and Luai both received fines after being dismissed for head butting each other in the final minute of the Suncorp Stadium clash, while New South Wales winger Josh Addo-Carr was sinbinned for punching Walsh.

Luai accused Walsh of sledging and the rookie fullback waved Addo-Carr off before receiving his own marching orders as Maroons enforcer Tino Fa'asuamaleaui pointed to the scoreboard, showing a dominant 32-6 win for Queensland.

However, the pair were remorseful afterwards, with Walsh saying he regretted the way he acted and Luai admitting: “I’m a sore loser”.

“I just hate to lose,” Luai said. "It's just a bit of passion, I’m a sore loser as well, so it’s disappointing.

“It’s a good rivalry we have now and Queensland won the series, so good on them.”

The NSW playmaker had taken exception to Walsh pulling his hair in Queensland's 26-18 series opening win, but he insisted there would be no lingering animosity between them in Origin III at Accor Stadium on July 12.

He revealed that Walsh had tried to provoke him but insisted his comments weren’t offensive.

“I’m not going to repeat what was said out there, but if you want to ask him he might tell you,” Luai said.

“He won the Origin series and it is fair game. They had the right to do that, they won the game and good on them, they won the series.”

NSW centre Stephen Crichton added: “They were pointing at the scoreboard, and that’s it. I think if it was the other way around, we would be doing the same thing. That’s footy and they played good footy and they deserved to win"

Despite being sent off, Walsh kissed the Queensland logo on his chest and waved to the crowd as he walked from the field.

“It wasn’t a pretty ending to the game and I’m a bit dirty on that, but this jersey means so much to me,” Walsh said.

“I’m not going to hold a grudge or anything. That’s rugby league, that stuff happens. I just hope that whatever happens on the field can stay on the field, and I'm glad to shake his hand off the field."

Walsh, who was also charged over a grapple tackle, said he and Luai would move on after the incident.

“It was just two passionate players who wear their heart on their sleeve and put their body on the line for their teammates, their families, the state,” he said.

“I've got a lot of respect for Jarome and the way he carries himself. Off the field, he's a young dad and I’m a young dad.

"I love the way he plays and the passion he plays with. You always hate versing those players and that’s all it is.

“It puts bums in seats and makes you want to go out there and play good footy. That’s what makes us really good players and the players we are."  

Luai said NSW's focus now would be on trying to prevent the Maroons from becoming the first Origin team to claim a series clean-sweep since 2010.

“It’s always about pride, when you chuck on this Origin jersey it is about pride in NSW and playing for your family and the state," Luai said.

“We are going to be motivated for Game III whoever gets selected.”