The war is won but some battles still remain as brawlers cop sanctions
The NRL has come down hard on the State of Origin brawlers, with the hangover of NSW’s series win at Suncorp Stadium extending into the club competition.
NSW’s Haumole Olakau’atu and Cameron Murray are facing two-match suspensions after both hit with grade-three contrary conduct charges on Thursday morning, after running in to a first-half melee from NSW’s bench at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Blues’ historic 14-4 victory over Queensland on Wednesday night marked only their third win in a series decider in Brisbane from 13 attempts. It also secured the Blues just their fifth series victory in 19 years, and denied Queensland a third straight series crown.
But both sides are expected to feel the after-effects for some time following a chaotic first-half melee that spilled over the sideline.
Seven other players – Queensland’s Jeremiah Nanai, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Reuben Cotter, Felise Kaufusi and NSW’s Brian To’o, Matt Burton and Payne Haas – were also charged with contrary conduct over the melee but can escape with fines.
There had been a suggestion that Olakau’atu could face up to four matches due to prior offences, but they do not carry over from club matches.
Murray was sin-binned for charging into the melee, which was instigated by Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and Blues five-eighth Jarome Luai.
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Olakau’atu, the Blues’ 18th man, was evicted from the playing arena after his involvement, and was forced to watch NSW lift the shield from the tunnel.
Cherry-Evans was adamant after the game that Murray should have been sent off, labelling his actions as “unacceptable”.
But NSW coach Michael Maguire came to the defence of the Blues pair, suggesting it was a positive they had stuck up for their teammates.
“When you look at that moment, Cam Murray is one of the nicest blokes in the game,” he said.
“He plays the game to perfection. He obviously went down there because he cares for one of his teammates.
“I’ve known Cameron for a long time, never thought he’d jump into something like that, but it just goes to show what the group mean to each other.”
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The NRL usually hands down any match charges in the two hours after fulltime for Origin matches, given the tight turnaround to the next round of the NRL competition.
But the dramatic nature of Wednesday night’s game prompted a marathon sitting for the match review committee, pushing any charges back until Thursday.
The NRL had to decide whether Olakau’atu will be dealt with by the match review committee or via a breach notice, given he was the Blues’ 19th man.
The suited-up Manly second-rower was ordered off the playing arena and told to watch the rest of the match from the dressing room, for becoming involved in the incident.
Cherry-Evans was adamant after the game that Murray should have been sent off, labelling his actions as “unacceptable”.
The NSW duo aren’t the only players expected to be investigated out of the match.
Cherry-Evans and Luai both struck each other with palms to the face to start the melee, while Jeremiah Nanai escalated the situation by charging in and hitting Luai from behind.
NSW 18th man Matt Burton and Queensland prop Moeaki Fotuaika were among other players on the bench to become involved.
Reece Walsh is likely to attract the attention of the match review committee after his feet collected Stephen Crichton’s head as he attempted to save a try.
Under NRL judiciary rules, players are able to take fines for grade-two offences in State of Origin, but grade-three charges result in bans of at least two matches.
If charged with grade-three offences, Olakau’atu and Fotuaika would face four-game bans due to prior charges this year.
Any charges could prompt a Friday judiciary hearing if players elect to fight them, given the short turnaround to weekend matches.
