Manly forward Toafofoa Sipley has apologised to Roosters winger Dom Young after an ugly tackle saw both men robbed of a trip to Las Vegas for their respective season openers.
In the second half of the Roosters’ 36-22 win in Gosford, Young took a hit up through the middle but as he was getting wrestled to the ground, found himself in an awkward position as Sipley’s large frame ended up putting pressure on the back of the Roosters recruit’s neck.
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While the commentators called it “dangerous” as they watched the replay, Young got to his feet and walked from the field, although he appeared to be in some distress.
The next fans saw him, he was being wheeled out of the stadium on a stretcher as he went to hospital for precautionary scans.
Although he was cleared of any serious damage but it’s now believed he could require surgery for ligament damage in his neck.
Both men were set to head to Vegas of the NRL opener with the Sea Eagles set to play the Rabbitohs and Roosters to play Broncos in the double-header.
But the tackle will see both men miss the match as Sipley has already pleaded guilty to the tackle and will be suspended for three matches after taking the early plea.
While it was clearly an accident, Sipley spoke to The Daily Telegraph, apologising for the incident.
“I truly am sorry about what happened to Dom,” Sipley said. “It’s so unfortunate. There was no intent and it was an accident.
“Obviously, I’ve robbed Dom — and me — of a game in Vegas, which is really unfortunate. It’s definitely something I am trying to get out of my game (by working) with Jimmy Dymock, our wrestling coach.
“It was honestly an accident. It probably doesn’t help my case because it has happened to me a couple of times in the past.
“I was really apologetic after the game to Dom Young. Even when I got off (the field) after my stint, I went straight to their changing room to go look for him and apologise.
“I know next time, whenever I talk to him, whenever it is, I will definitely say it face-to-face.”
Sipley said he hadn’t yet been able to get in contact with Young, saying he believed he was stuck in his message requests.
While not shirking responsibility, the 29-year-old Sea Eagles star said small factors made a big difference in making tackles.
“I don’t go into any game with the intent to injure someone. Footy happens at a thousand miles an hour – it was just one of those unfortunate ones,” he said.
“I learned at a young age, footy is a game of angles. You never know what way you’re going to go in. That’s how footy is.
“I’m not trying to justify what’s happened because I feel bad. But you can’t control certain positions you get into and I just found myself in an unfortunate angle with Dom and he, unfortunately, he has come out of it injured.”
Sipley added he hoped that Young was back soon.
The Roosters confirmed Young had suffered a “soft tissue injury to his neck and will be treated conservatively by the Roosters medical team”.
Speaking after the game on Saturday, Roosters coach Trent Robinson said while it was “accidental”, it appeared as though there was a lot of pressure on Young’s neck.
The Roosters are set to fly out for Vegas on Wednesday.
Sipley, who has played 70 matches in the NRL for the Warriors and Sea Eagles and will miss matches against the Rabbitohs, Roosters and Eels before returning for Manly’s round four clash against the Dragons on March 30.
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