Queensland star Cameron Munster has apologised for a moment of madness where he appeared to kick NSW forward Liam Martin but says he doesn’t have an issue controlling his emotions when the result goes against him.
Munster and Martin clashed in the 55th minute of the record 50-6 victory by NSW in Origin I, the flashpoint moment attracting a grade one contrary conduct charge and $1150 fine if he enters an early guilty plea.
But prop Moe Fotuaika faces a one game ban for a grade one dangerous contact charge for a late shot on Latrell Mitchell in the 22nd minute while Kyle Feldt (dangerous contact) faces a $1600 fine if he takes an early plea for his late tackle on Cameron Murray.
But the talking point was Munster’s clash with Martin.
It is the second time Munster’s temper has got the better of him when losing big games after he was infamously sin binned twice in the 2018 grand final for lashing out, including kicking Joey Manu when the Sydney Roosters had the premiership in the bag.
Munster insisted his latest incident had no malice and said he was simply trying to get Martin off his legs after he’d kicked the ball clear.
“I obviously didn’t like what he done and he got under my skin and being the competitive person that I am [I did that], it wasn’t a full kick or anything like that, there was no malice in it whatsoever,” Munster said.
“Look I will leave that to the judiciary and see if they feel it was necessary.
“I am a very competitive person and yeah he got under my skin but in no way or form or shape did I want to go out there and hurt him.
“You can tell there was no full swing, it was more me trying to get him off me.
“To be completely honest I didn’t really think there was too much malice in it.
“I came off the field and some of the boys and some of the coaches were talking to me about it and I didn’t really remember it to be honest.
“If it doesn’t look too good but I know deep down I didn’t try to fully kick him. If I fully tried kicking him I can assure you he would’ve been on the floor.
“I’m sure anyone would be on the floor if anyone tried to full swing kick you and he got back, he was all over me and I just wanted to get him of me.
“I was frustrated with my kick and yeah I wouldn’t say I lashed out but I was trying to get him off me. You can tell I wasn’t trying to full swing kick him in the stomach.
“If Liam is listening then I’m sorry if he thinks there’s any malice in it.”
Martin agreed that his incident with Munster was not worthy of punishment and was happy to leave their clash as just a classic Origin confrontation that should stay on the field.
“It’s Origin so I was just trying to get stuck into him as best as I could,” Martin told NRL.com.
“I can’t really repeat what I said to him. I just gave him a bit of a spray. He gave me a bit of spray back and grabbed me. We did a bit of a dance and that was it.
“Nothing in it, just typical Origin. You’re trying to get under each other’s skin a bit and that’s all it was.”
SOURCE: NRL.com