St George Illawarra five-eighth Jamie Soward offered an apology to Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah over an on-field sledge that is believed to have included a reference to the hooker's late mother.

Fairfax Media was told on Sunday night the remark had been about Farah's mother, Sonia, who died last year after a battle with pancreatic cancer. It is also understood Soward had been reacting to a personal remark about his fiancee, Emma. Soward is understood to have snapped when he heard that remark but did not realise the comment had not been made by Farah. The pair had to be separated after the heated exchange.

Remorse: Jamie Soward apologised. Credit:Getty Images

Farah was privately seething about the remark aimed at him although he would only say afterwards: ''I'll leave it on the field. I'm not happy about it but I'll leave it on the field. He apologised, so I'll cop it. But I don't want to discuss it.''

Soward confirmed he had apologised to Farah on the field but suggested he had been targeted.