Raiders junior Josh Mitchell said his parents were ''disgusted'' by the tackle that forced him from the field in a neck brace on Saturday and he called on the game to give players more protection from grappling.
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But Mitchell said he held no personal grudge against Wests Tigers winger Marika Koroibete, who was yesterday banned for three matches for a shocking grapple tackle on Mitchell's head and neck in Saturday's under-20s match at Canberra Stadium.
Mitchell was placed in a neck brace and taken from the field on a medicab, suffering pins and needles down his left side. Scans have revealed he suffered a compressed disc in his neck and the 19-year-old will be sidelined for at least four weeks.
Mitchell recalled opening his eyes in the medical room at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night, his father Graeme beside him.
''I don't know how he got in there,'' Mitchell said. ''He was pretty scared.''
''He was a bit shocked but when the doctor said I'd be okay his heart started beating again.
''They were pretty shocked as all parents would [be] I suppose. They didn't know what to do. They were sort of disgusted with how it happened.''
Mitchell did not want to comment on the specific tackle or the penalty handed to Koroibete.
But asked if enough was done to protect players, Mitchell said, ''not as much as it should be. I think there's too much head contact and wrestling around the head, but I'm sure they'll resolve it for the future in the game and do what's best for it.''
Mitchell attended his first physiotherapy and weights session yesterday and is hoping to return to work as a carpenter's apprentice this morning.
Mitchell said he actually felt lucky to have left Canberra Stadium on Saturday night only with his left arm in a sling.
''It happens in footy, it's something that probably shouldn't happen,'' he said.
''I feel really lucky actually, you see other people get neck injuries and they're in a wheelchair or they can't do anything so I feel pretty lucky that this is only minor.
''I love the game and injuries happen, but I can't wait to get back out there.''
■ FOUR junior Raiders will represent the Maroons in the curtain-raiser to State of Origin II in Sydney next week.
Fullback Jono Kent, halfback Anthony Milford and centre Brenko Lee have been named in the starting team for the Queensland Under-18s, while Raiders lock Patrick Mago will start on the bench.
The four players were all recruited to the Raiders via Canberra's association with the Souths Logan club in Brisbane. They were all instrumental in Canberra making the SG Ball Cup grand final, which it eventually lost to Balmain.
