Sydney Roosters firebrand Dylan Napa has defended his controversial tackle on Korbin Sims and explained why he reacted the way he did.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett blasted the tackle as reckless and slammed Napa for carrying on like a "victor in a prize fight" afterwards while Sims has since been ruled out for up to six weeks with a broken jaw.
Napa, who was sin-binned for the incident but escaped a charge from the match review committee, took the rare step of offering to front reporters on Tuesday and explain his side of a tackle that resulted in a sickening head clash.
"I wanted to make it known that I didn't lead intentionally with the head," said Napa.
I've got so much love for the game that I would never try and put it in jeopardy.
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"I've been playing with and against Korbin since I was 15. To think that I would intentionally go out and try and break his jaw with my head is totally false."
The Queensland Origin forward explained that he was preparing for a left shoulder tackle but was left in an awkward position after Sims stepped off his right foot.
He believed he had dislodged the ball in the collision and didn't realise he'd clashed heads with Sims at the time.
"I got up and saw that he dropped the ball so I was pretty excited that we got the ball back with less than six minutes to go in a game that was tied at 22-all," Napa said.
"I was excited, but I definitely wasn't showboating about a head clash.
"It wasn't until after that I saw that we'd collided heads. I was excited that I'd made a big play for our team to get the ball back."
Napa revealed he reached out to the injured Sims over the weekend, but declined to reveal what was said.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg on Monday admitted he did not agree with the match review committee's verdict and believed Napa should have been charged as player safety was paramount.
Napa said accidental head clashes were inevitable.
"I do take responsibility of the attacker, but I can't help accidents. I'm sure it's going to happen to me again. Front-rowers running together, there's going to be some stuff that happens," he said.
"I don't wish it upon anyone and I would never do it intentionally but it's just what happens.
"Obviously I can't be getting sent off (sinbinned) with six minutes to go in a game that's drawn. I felt like I let my team down on the weekend with that and potentially lost the game for us."
Roosters captain Boyd Cordner said it was ridiculous to believe Napa intentionally led with his head.
"I don't think any player can honestly say that they would lead in with their head intentionally. It's just ridiculous to even think about, to put your own health at risk," Cordner said.
