Queensland Maroons centre Will Chambers has apologised to Mitchell Pearce for a huge hit that saw the New South Wales halfback helped from the field during Game One of the 2017 State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Blues cruised to a 28-4 victory, but it is unlikely Pearce will remember it after copping Chambers's shoulder to the head in the 50th minute and suffering a concussion.
The Melbourne Storm outside back charged out of the line to put pressure on Pearce as he received the ball, but his shoulder slipped up and left Pearce in a terrible state, with the Sydney Roosters half lying motionless on the Suncorp Stadium turf.
Chambers has since been charged with a grade one careless high tackle for the hit and has been fined $1550 after entering a guilty plea.
Talking to NRL.com after the game, Chambers said his first priority was to make sure Pearce was okay, with the Australian international apologising as soon as the opportunity arose.
"I just sort of came in really quick and it happened very fast. I'm not sure what happened really," Chambers said.
"I made sure I apologised to Mitchell after the game. There was no intention of hitting him high. I went over and saw him just to see if he was okay.
"You never want to see that in rugby league because it's not a good look for our game. To see someone convulsing on the ground is a sickening look.
"There was no malice. I ran in and it just happened. What's done is done."
Whether at the match or watching on television, for Chambers it was the last thing he wanted people to see.
"You hate seeing people in that sort of state on the rugby league field. You have however many million people watching it and a heap of kids watching it," he said.
"You have a guy convulsing on the ground and it's not a good look at all. I was very sorry for hitting him high and I still am. It was an accident."
Chambers had no complaints with being cited when told of his punishment, saying that he expected to be charged as soon as he realised he had made contact with Pearce's head.
"In today's day and age when someone is caught high it is most likely going to be cited. I found out about an hour after the match so we will see what happens," he said.
