Former NRL player Pat Politoni was in the headlines for the wrong reasons over the weekend after video emerged of him knocking out an opponent with a punch in an Intrust Super Queensland Cup match.
Though now, the Townsville Blackhawks player who he belted has admitted he possibly had it coming.
Politoni had just been sent to the sin bin when opposition halfback Michael Parker-Walshe pushed his head, angering the former Tigers, Sharks and Titans hooker.
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Parker-Walshe, who was then floored by Politoni's wild right hand, has since told the Townsville Bulletin that he poked the bear.
"It was probably a bit of a d---head move on my part," Parker-Walshe said.
"To be completely honest, I have watched the incident and I was being a bit of a smart arse.
"We play a contact sport, and in the heat of the moment, that was his reaction. If we all had our time again, I wouldn't have patted him on the head.
"I wear the number seven and I niggle with the best of them. That has probably been coming for a few years."
Watch the incident in the player below.
Long suspension ahead for Pat Politoni #IntrustSuperCup #BurleighBears pic.twitter.com/9MwUYYrqkM
— Chris (@Vossy7) March 31, 2019
28-year-old Politoni's sin-binning was upgraded to a send-off, while Tom Opacic and Kieran Quabba were binned for their involvement in the brawl.
Home side Townsville went on to win the game 16-10 at Jack Manski Oval.
Politoni will face the judiciary on Wednesday night where the former Tongan international is expected to be hit with a lengthy ban.
