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Disgraced former New South Wales rugby league great Steve Roach has publicly apologised for abusing referee Tony Archer following Wednesday's State of Origin victory by Queensland.
Roach yesterday stood down from his position as an assistant manager of the NSW team after calling Archer a "f***ing cheat" in the tunnel after Queensland claimed a series clinching 16-10 win.
The former prop said he got carried away by the emotionally charged defeat and had apologised directly to Archer.
"It doesn't matter whether I'm wearing the blue blazer or I'm a supporter, my passion and commitment to the Blues will never waiver," Roach said during his commentary duties for the Macquarie Radio Network. "I did the wrong thing. I apologised to the appropriate people and I just want to get back on the horse and get on with football again.
"It was a private conversation [with Archer] but I will tell you part of it. I have always got on good with Archer and we have a pretty good relationship with him and his wife (NRL media assistant Alison) and he said to me 'now I know what State of Origin passion is all about, I have refereed my first series'.
"I apologised to him. It was a heat-of-the-moment thing. I got carried away. I have always worn my heart on my sleeve. I think I am playing, I'm only on the bench and helping with the management.
"I honestly felt for the boys. I got caught up in the moment and I apologise for it - I don't know what else I can do."
Roach said he believed the injury-forced absence of Origin I match-winner Mark Gasnier robbed the Blues of their best attacking weapon for the decider.
"NSW are in a little bit of a hole at the moment. We've lost the last three series and we've got to find some sort of strike player," he said.
Meanwhile, NSW skipper Danny Buderus has become the latest State of Origin casualty and could miss four NRL games for Newcastle.
Buderus has injured the tibial plateau just below the knee, ruling him out of last night's match against St George Illawarra and between one and three more games.
"It could be two, it could be three, it could be four," Knights coach Brian Smith told AAP. "It's probably more to do with a stress-type fracture rather than a break."
Smith was already without Blues prop Ben Cross (knee and thumb) for six weeks after Origin III and is growing frustrated at the affect the series has had on his club. The coach said he presumed Buderus' injury was due to overuse.
"Some clubs just get dealt way more tough cards than others this time of the year," he said. "It's as if instead of fighting in their own weight division they've dropped down two levels. It's a very unequal period of the season."
- AAP
