Lussick says he loved NRL brawl
Manly front rower Darcy Lussick has described the brawling NRL match between the Sea Eagles and Melbourne as "the best day of my life."
Friday's ugly incident has been slammed by NRL chief executive David Gallop as a negative look for the game, while both clubs were hit with $50,000 fines and a total of 10 players were charged by the match review committee.
It started when Lussick copped an elbow in a tackle from Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe and retaliated with a head slap before Storm prop Adam Blair joined in.
Lussick was hit with a grade four contrary conduct charge by the match review panel which will see him miss three matches - at least the majority of Manly's finals campaign.
"That was the best day of my life, to do that with my mates out there," Lussick told Rugby League Week magazine of the match won by Manly.
"After that first scuffle a few Storm boys wanted my blood and they were giving it to me the whole game.
"But I was giving it back as good as I got it. If I was a bit younger I would have been intimidated but I just wanted to defend myself.
"And I knew all my team-mates had my back so we loved it out there."
Lussick's teammate Glenn Stewart and Storm counterpart Blair were referred straight to the NRL judiciary, having exchanged blows on the sideline after being sinbinned.
Lussick gave his description of how and why things got out of hand at Brookvale Oval.
"Glenn got annoyed because Blair came in third man and was throwing punches at me," Lussick said.
"That happens in fights but I had done nothing wrong. Then it erupted when Glenn and Blair left the field again. But Glenn just wanted to back up a team-mate.
"And Brett (Stewart, who then ran into join the fight and was suspended for a week) was just trying to defend his brother. They are inseparable and best mates so that's what brothers do, don't they?
"We prepared all week for it to be that intense but you don't really know until you get out there. But I loved it. It was good."
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