There is no bad blood between Reece Walsh and Joseph Sua'ali'i.
Just ask the Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Origin game-breaker himself, who instead rates Sua'ali'i as a class act.
Walsh could be forgiven for holding a grudge against the Roosters and NSW centre for knocking him out in the opening minutes of Origin One in Sydney.
But, shedding some light on a brief on-field interaction with Sua'ali'i after the Blues won the decider 14-4 at Suncorp Stadium last Wednesday night, the 22-year-old superstar said he harboured no hard feelings.
"He's a class player and a class human being, mate," Walsh told media after playing a starring role in Brisbane's 30-14 victory over Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night.
In an online video posted on the NRL's Instagram account after Origin Three last Wednesday, Walsh and Sua'ali'i can be seen embracing on the field shortly after the final siren sounded.
Walsh wizardry
Sua'ali'i, who was sent off and suspended for four games for his mistimed high tackle, can be heard on the video telling Walsh "I'm sorry".
Walsh, who was holding hands with his three-year-old daughter Leila, responded: "It's all good, bra", then Sua'ali'i and Leila waved to each other before the players hugged again then rejoined their respective Origin teammates.
Insisting they had made peace and moved on, Walsh described Sua'ali'i as an "awesome bloke" and said they had wished each other well for the rest of the season.
He just came in to see how I was doing and wished me all the best for the rest of the year, as I did to him. He's an awesome bloke
Walsh in Sua'ali'i
"Like I said earlier, that's footy, and you go out there and you want to do your state proud. You want to do yourself proud, and your family, and things happen.
"I think you journos and everyone in the media is blowing stuff up.
"I understand that's your job but at the end of the day, we're two young men going out there and playing footy, wanting to make an impact for our teams, and things happen.
"It was a good moment."
Unable to return to the series-opener after Sua'ali'i's high shot, Walsh went on to have little impact for Queensland in their losses to NSW in the second and third games.
Maroons coach Billy Slater complained after the decider that Walsh "was certainly getting hit a fair bit without the footy".
Sua'ali'i sent off
But the fleet-footed custodian side-stepped questions about being unfairly targeted by the Blues.
"Origin's over now, mate, and I'm just focused on being a Bronco and playing my best footy," Walsh said.
"I can't control what other people want to do. I can only control what I can do."
Walsh conceded he was disappointed with his overall performances in the Origin series but, after scoring a try and setting up another two in Brisbane's triumph over Newcastle, he had reset his focus on helping the Broncos mount a late charge to the finals.
That win against the Knights ended a six-game losing streak stretching back to Magic Round, and the Broncos will aim for back-to-back wins when they host the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
All Tries – Knights v Broncos
"I don't read too many comments," Walsh said. "I know my game, and obviously I was a bit disappointed with some things there, but I've just got to keep my head down, keep working hard and keep giving my best effort.
"Obviously the Origin period is over now so we've got to come together as a group. Through the Origin period, it's pretty tough because you're in and out and you don't see the boys too much.
"It was good to get the two points. It was a bit rusty out there but we can take a lot out of it and build on that."
