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28 Dec 25

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Joseph Suaalii was sent off seven minutes into his State of Origin debut on June 5, 2024, for a high tackle that made direct contact with Reece Walsh’s head with his shoulder.

The incident left Walsh with a category-one concussion, ruling him out for the rest of the match, which Queensland won 38-10.

Incident Details and Aftermath

Match: State of Origin Game I, 2024 series, held at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

Action Taken: Suaalii was immediately sent off by referee Ashley Klein for a “very dangerous action,” making him the sixth man in Origin history to be sent off.

Injury: Walsh was unconscious for a short time on the field and displayed category one concussion symptoms.

Suspension: Suaalii accepted a four-match suspension, which effectively ended his involvement in the 2024 State of Origin series as he was due to switch to rugby union from the following season.
Aftermath: Both players later met and shared a hug after Game 3 of the series, indicating the incident was water under the bridge. Walsh has since praised Suaalii’s character for offering an apology.