State of Origin III was dripping with hatred on Wednesday night.
There were brawls, barbs and braggadocio as NSW spoiled Queensland's party at winning a fourth-straight series.
It didn't stop at the final whistle, as the chief protagonists continued to swing at each other through the media.
Brett White,
though, broke ranks when he left a message on Steve Price's phone. That's the same Brett White who decked Price, knocking the Warriors skipper out cold and rendering him unavailable for today's Warriors visit to the Roosters.
It's also the same Brett White who showed little contrition after the match when he accused Price of kneeing him during a play-the-ball late in the game, which sparked the brawl.
"Brett had called to make sure I was all right and to say what happens in the heat of the battle stays on the field," Price told The Daily Telegraph.
"It was very credible, very honourable for him to do that. I have never condoned fighting on the field - and the way my top lip looks right now it's going to stay that way."
White, though, thought his phone call to his opposite front-rower was the right thing to do.
"Steve Price is a decent bloke and a good role model," he said. "I wanted to make sure he was sweet and assure him it wasn't premeditated or anything like that ... I'm a bit surprised I threw one that hard."
There was concern over Price's condition as he lay prone on the Suncorp Stadium turf, especially after NSW second-rower Trent Waterhouse blindsided him moments after White's telling blow.
Price was stretchered off in a neck brace but Warriors medical staff are hopeful he will be available for next Sunday's visit of competition leaders St George-Illawarra Dragons.
Price missed two games earlier this season with a throat injury.
* BOOKMAKERS HAVE declared finals specialists Brisbane "gone" after they tumbled to their fifth loss in six NRL games at the hands of South Sydney on Friday night.
Finalists for 17 straight seasons under former coach Wayne Bennett, Brisbane have serious defensive issues after leaking 40 points or more against Parramatta, Melbourne, Cronulla and Souths, who smashed the Broncos 44-16 in front of 50,190 fans at Suncorp Stadium.
- AGENCIES
