South Sydney back-rower Jaydn Su’A has no plans to tone down his aggression on the eve of NRL finals after escaping suspension for his high hit on Brisbane’s Alex Glenn.
Su’A’s hip pocket was $1150 lighter on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a grade one dangerous contact head/neck charge in the Rabbitohs’ tense 22-20 win over the Broncos on Friday night.
The 21-year-old, who followed legendary coach Wayne Bennett down to Redfern in June, conceded he’d “got it wrong” but insisted it was an accident.
“Funnily enough it was against the Broncos. So obviously it looks bad,” Su’A said on Tuesday.
“There was no malice in it. I was just a bit aggressive.
“That’s just how I play. Sometimes things like that happen. I haven’t been suspended in a while. I’m over it now and just look forward to this week.”
Teammate James Roberts wasn’t so lucky, with the former Bronco now sidelined until finals as he serves a two-match ban for a sin bin-worthy blow on Corey Oates.
Oates was lying prone on the ground after trying to score in the corner when Roberts dropped an elbow on the Brisbane flyer’s head.
With Roberts and George Burgess’ nine-game eye-gouging ban, Souths have now racked up 33 matches worth of suspensions since the start of 2017.
Prop Mark Nicholls admitted Roberts had let the team down as they chase a top-four spot over the next fortnight without him.
But he suggested coach Bennett had called on his troops not to take a backward step at Suncorp Stadium.
“Sometimes you overstep the mark,” Nicholls said.
“But if we didn’t go up there and play with passion and energy … then we’d be disappointed and our fans would be disappointed.
“That’s what Wayne wanted out of us.”
It’s not all bad news for the Bunnies, though, with captain Sam Burgess confirmed to return from a quad injury for Friday night’s away clash against the Warriors.
“It’s a big boost,” winger Corey Allan said.
“He’s a big aura on the field for all of us. He’s always talking and we all look up to him.”
Alex Johnston also returns and will slot in on the wing, the flyer having been out of action for Souths since mid May because of a knee injury.