Reece Walsh reveals what he said to rival who knocked him out cold during State of Origin

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Reece Walsh has buried the hatchet with NSW rival Joseph Sua'ali'i following the pair's brutal collision during State of Origin Game I.

Wallabies-bound Sua'ali'i saw his dream Origin debut turn into a nightmare just seven minutes into the opening game of this year's series, with the Roosters gun sent off for laying Walsh out flat on the turf.

Broncos star Walsh was wiped out of the match with concussion but Queensland went on to win the contest 38-10. 

The Blues fought back to win the series but Sua'ali'i was not involved in the final two games owing to his four-match suspension for the nasty hit.

He did, however, play a part in the Blues' extended training squad and was in attendance at the decider in Brisbane as NSW secured a famous triumph on enemy soil.

Video footage after the full time whistle showing Walsh and Sua'ali'i sharing a heartwarming moment along with the fullback's young daughter went viral, racking up hundreds of thousands of views on social media.

Walsh has now revealed what was said between the two men, and he only had positive things to say about his counterpart.

'He's a class player and a class human being,' Walsh said via news.com.au.

Reece Walsh has revealed what he really thinks of NSW rival Joseph Sua'ali'i

'He just came in to see how I was doing and wished me all the best for the rest of the year. As I did to him.

'He is an awesome bloke. It's footy. You want to go out and do your state proud and do yourself and your family proud. Things happen.'

The incident led to a war of words between Origin coaches Billy Slater and Michael Maguire, but Walsh was not eager to get drawn into the verbal spat.

'Like I said earlier, that's footy, and you go out there and you want to do your state proud,' Walsh said. 'You want to do yourself proud, and your family, and things happen.

Walsh was knocked out cold by the Roosters star during the first game of Origin

'I think you journos and everyone in the media is blowing stuff up.

'I understand that's your job but at the end of the day, we're two young men going out there and playing footy, wanting to make an impact for our teams, and things happen.

'It was a good moment.' 

Sua'ali'i was deeply apologetic for his part in the incident. He said he was  'disappointed at letting my family, my state and my teammates (down).'

He said: 'I didn't mean that at all, I just went there to go and tackle (Walsh).

'I accidentally clipped his head and I hope he is doing all right.

'I haven't reached out to him yet but it's something I'll do.'