‘Didn’t see it as foul play’: Simonsson holds no grudge against Tigers winger

Luckless Parramatta three-quarter Bailey Simonsson says there are “no hard feelings” towards Luke Laulilii for the tackle that ended his season and has passed on those sentiments to the Wests Tigers winger to ensure he didn’t feel responsible for what he described as an “accident”.

Laulilii has been hit with a one-match ban for a midair tackle that resulted in a serious ankle injury to Simonsson.

Tigers coach Benji Marshall and teammates said Laulilii did not deserve to be binned for his effort on Simonsson as the pair contested the ball approaching the hour mark during Monday’s golden-point epic, which the Tigers won 22-20.

Speaking from his hospital bed in Norwest Private Hospital on Tuesday morning, Simonsson said he held no ill will towards Laulilii over the incident.

“It’s the game we play, risk comes with it,” Simonsson told this masthead.

“No bad feelings at all, it’s an accident. Shit happens in footy.

“I reached out to a couple of the boys I know at the Tigers to make sure he didn’t feel bad.

“I didn’t want him to feel like it’s his fault, it’s an accident … I didn’t see it as foul play, it’s just one of those things.

“It could easily be me in his position on the other side of the ball. No hard feelings. It is what it is.”

Simonsson, whose season is over, is booked for surgery on Tuesday afternoon. While his unavailability further tests the depth of an injury-ravaged squad, the former Raider is backing the Eels to overcome the setback.

“It gives opportunities, Apa [Twidle] came in last night and did really well,” Simonsson said. “It’s good to give someone else a shot.”

Simonsson dislocated his ankle, was taken from the field on the back of a medicab, and then taken to hospital.

“I didn’t agree with it, it’s as simple as that,” Marshall said of the sin-binning on Monday night.

“If he [Simonsson] didn’t get injured, would it have been the same result?”

Tigers outside back Sunia Turuva said of the incident: “I didn’t think there was too much in it, to be honest. They both went up to compete, and they clashed in the air. Luke saw him catch the ball and put his arm out. I would have done the same thing. It was unfortunate.”

The match review committee issued a grade-two dangerous contact charge on Monday night, which means Laulilii, 19, will miss Sunday’s second-versus-third clash against Newcastle at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

The punishment will come as little comfort for the Eels, who have now lost Simonsson, Isaiah Iongi (ankle) for eight weeks and J’maine Hopgood (knee) for the season in successive weeks as a result of foul play.

Laulilii, Penrith’s Mitch Kenny and St George Illawarra’s Ryan Couchman, the three players charged with the respective offences, will miss a combined six matches.

Parramatta coach Jason Ryles said none of the tackles were intentional, “but there’s a reason those actions are outlawed, [and it is] because of what we’re going through now”.

Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos spoke to this masthead last week about the idea of clubs being granted salary-cap dispensation if players were sidelined for a lengthy amount of time as a result of foul play.

Ryles had already asked club officials to ask the NRL if that was even an option, and said, “surely it would be something worth considering [if it is] foul play, a season-ending injury; I think common sense would prevail.”

Simonsson posted a photo of himself in hospital late Monday with the caption: “Man highs and lows of footy. Nothing I haven’t faced before. I’ll be back better than before, in for surgery tonight and back on the mend tomorrow.”

Eels centre Sean Russell will also be out of action because of a concussion – was fined $750 for hitting Heamasi Makasini high during the same incident in which he sustained the injury – while Jonah Pezet has a hamstring issue. Ryles said Russell was a better chance of playing than Pezet ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Gold Coast.

For the Tigers, Starford To’a (foot) was listed to play in reserve grade on Monday and is one option in the outside backs with Laulilii ineligible, while Taylan May (shoulder) is close to a return, but will not be ready for the Knights. Marshall confirmed Jarome Luai was also unlikely to return from a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Turuva explained the moment Eels fullback Joash Papalii stood over him and screamed in his face when he drove the centre into touch during an often emotional contest.

“Something happened between us earlier in the game,” Turuva said.

“When we scored I got into him, I carried on a bit, so when he was involved in the tackle where they took me out, he got stuck into me. Fair play to him. It was good. These Easter clashes can get fiery.”