There are no hard feelings from Brisbane winger Corey Oates after copping the elbow to the head that landed ex-teammate James Roberts in hot water.
But Oates reckons Roberts may have lashed out because he held a grudge against his former NRL club.
Roberts faces a two-week ban with an early plea after being charged with grade two dangerous contact for his shot on Oates in Brisbane's 22-20 loss on Friday night.
Oates was lying prone on the ground after trying to score in the corner when Roberts dropped an elbow on the Brisbane flyer's head, earning a first-half sin bin stint.
Oates admitted on Monday Roberts appeared fired up when he ran out against his former club for the first time since receiving a late May release from the Broncos, after falling out of favour with coach Anthony Seibold.
He believed the former NSW centre's exit from Red Hill may have been behind the incident.
"It might have been what happened here (Broncos), obviously he didn't leave the way he wanted to," he said.
"He was probably up for the game, came into the game with a bit of aggression and showed a bit of aggression on the night.
"I can't say it didn't hurt. But it's a game of footy, heat of the moment, things happen - I don't really hold a grudge."
Oates revealed Roberts apologised for the hit during the second half.
But Queensland winger Oates admitted he looked forward to another round with Roberts, which may come as early as the first week of the NRL finals.
The Rabbitohs and Broncos are fifth and eighth respectively with two rounds left.
If they retain their positions on the NRL ladder they would meet in an elimination showdown in the first week of the finals.
Oates predicted a finals clash with the Rabbitohs would be the talk of the NRL judging by last week's extraordinary match buildup.
Brisbane's clashes with South Sydney have turned into grudge matches this year after the messy coach swap between Seibold and Rabbitohs mentor Wayne Bennett.
However, the build-up of last week's round 23 game was dominated by Seibold's war of words with Rabbitohs assistant Jason Demetriou who questioned the Brisbane mentor's NRL finals record.
"It would be great," Oates said of a Brisbane-South Sydney elimination final.
"I am sure if that is the way it panned it would be the best thing that happened to the NRL that week.
"It could happen in the finals but we have to get there first."
Brisbane aim to keep their top-eight quest on track when they face the sixth-placed Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Australian Associated Press
