Tyrell Fuimaono blasts claims he meant to hurt Haze Dunster because Parra star is dating his sister

Dragons forward Tyrell Fuimaono has hit out at the ‘bullc**p’ claims he deliberately injured Haze Dunster, insisting he was upset the tackle resulted in the Parramatta Eels star facing a long spell on the sideline.

Dunster’s season was curtailed before it even began when the 23-year-old ruptured his anterior, medial and posterior ligaments in his left knee during a trial match against St. George Illawarra last month after being tackled by Fuimaono.

The latter was banned for five matches following the incident but insisted there was no malice involved in the tackle. 

‘I’m equally, if not more, disappointed that he got injured as in the five-week suspension, which is not easy to cop when I didn’t mean to do it,’ he told The Sun-Herald.

Adding a layer of intrigue to the incident, Dunster is in a long-term relationship with Fuimaono’s sister Taliah, who plays for the Dragons in the NRLW.

The St. George forward, however, vehemently dismissed the suggestion he deliberately wanted to hurt his sister’s boyfriend.

‘I spoke to him on multiple occasions after the game and the passing week or so. Never once did I have any intention [to hurt him],’ he continued.

Dunster is in a long-term relationship with Fuimaono’s sister Taliah, who plays in the NRLW

‘All the media that said I was out for him because he was seeing my sister, it’s all bullc**p.

‘I really like the kid and am supportive of the relationship. That’s all rubbish.’

He added: ‘He [Dunster] seems to be coping as well as anyone could with a serious injury like that.

‘It’s a s**t circumstance, but hopefully that’s his bad luck out of the way, he can overcome this and get better and stronger.’

The Dragons forward was charged for a hip-drop tackle against Dane Gagai last season

For his part, the Eels winger suggested there was no bad blood between him and the Dragons forward.

‘He wouldn’t do anything like that on purpose,’ Dunster told Parramatta’s website this week.

Fuimaono has developed a bit of a reputation as one of the NRL bad boys. 

Dunster (right) was expected to establish himself as a regular on the wing for the Eels

But will now have to watch the entire season from the sidelines after his injury

Last year, he was charged for a hip-drop tackle on Dane Gagai and delivered a high shot that left Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen concussed and sidelined for months.

The 26-year-old insisted he wasn’t a dirty player, but acknowledged his disciplinary record suggested he would have to tweak his tackling technique.

‘I’ve got to change something, or I’ll keep finding myself on the sideline,’ he said.