Parramatta playmaker Dylan Brown has publicly apologised for sending Roosters star Drew Hutchison to hospital when he slid in with a "lazy" challenge in the Eels' controversial round nine win over the Tricolours.
Hutchison was left with broken ribs and a punctured lung after Brown slid into him, leading with his knees at Bankwest Stadium in an incident that had Roosters coach Trent Robinson fuming due to the Bunker's inaction until watching replays at half-time.
Hutchison's injuries have been so severe that he's been forced to return to hospital on three separate occasions since.
Having served his suspension, Brown was named in the Eels' lineup to face the Knights this Sunday, and he fronted media today to break his silence over the matter.
"I seriously thought nothing of it, I didn't realise," Brown said as he reflected on the incident.
"Then I watched the video back and I was like 'Yeah, that was just lazy from me, really'. I just didn't tackle.
"I'm sorry to him."
Brown revealed he went to find Hutchison after the match to apologise but was shocked to find he had been rushed to hospital.
"I actually went after the game to try and find him, but he was rushed to hospital," he said.
"So, I reached out to him on Instagram and sent him a message.
"He said, 'It's just a game, it happens'. So, I was thankful for that, that he wasn't holding a grudge or anything because honestly, there was no intention there."
Brown says he feels partly responsible for the league's crackdown on foul play which was put into effect the very next week after the controversial moment also saw James Tedesco floored in the same play by Marata Niukore just seconds earlier.
"Yeah, I feel like that one incident with me and Murata has sort of come from that," he said.
"But in all honesty, he was in hospital. And no one wants that happening to a player. V'landys says, it's to keep everyone safe so we've got to follow it."
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