THE public backlash against Corey Parker’s apparent headbutt has been “over the top” according to the man himself.

Parker added to the controversy of Brisbane’s elimination final win over the Gold Coast when his head appeared to come into contact with Titans’ captain Ryan James’ while packing a 58th-minute scrum.

Any sanction could have seen the Broncos’ captain’s NRL career over, given the retiring forward would have needed to beat the charge to play in Friday’s semi-final against North Queensland. But Parker said he was never concerned.

“I’ve seen some headbutts, but that was certainly not in the headbutt rule by my opinion anyway,” he told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

Corey Parker clashed with Titans rival Ryan James. Source: Supplied

“If anything it was like a cheek slap, like cheek-to-cheek.

“The fact that it was being thrown around over the weekend of potentially missing games was a little bit over the top I reckon, to be honest.”

Instead, Parker blamed James for the incident.

“He wouldn’t let me in the scrum,” he said.

“I think he was concerned about getting out of the scrum, like being held in the scrum.” Brisbane centre James Roberts has been charged after he appeared to kick Titans forward Ryan Simpkins in the lead-up to a second-half try.