‘What did you expect?’ Blues were the bullies, not us, say Maroons

Queensland have set the record straight about last year’s Origin III fireworks, insisting it was NSW - not the Maroons - who were the aggressors all series.

Much has been made about NSW’s inclusion of enforcers Tevita Pangai Junior and Hudson Young in a bid to make sure the Blues are not bullied off the park again this time around.

But you only have to listen to captain Daly Cherry-Evans blowing up at referee Ashley Klein in the middle of Suncorp Stadium to appreciate the Maroons’ frustrations.

After Dane Gagai launched a flurry of punches at Matt Burton while fellow Maroon Tino Fa’asuamaleaui held Burton back, Cherry-Evans yells at Klein: “All game, all series, they’ve taken us out off the ball. All series. All series. What did you expect to happen? They can’t keep doing that shit.”

Two incidents from game two in Perth - Cameron Munster being hit by Stephen Crichton, then Nathan Cleary whacking Kalyn Ponga - had left the Maroons nonplussed.

The Queensland players have barely spoken about the punch-up since, but senior Maroon Ben Hunt told this masthead his teammates had simply run out of patience after a string of late shots by the Blues.

“It was definitely happening to us [being taken out off the ball],” Hunt said on Monday. “But it’s Origin footy, it’s a tough brand of footy, and you need to keep your head on a swivel.

“I think that night it reached a boiling point, a couple of guys had had enough and it teed off. I can tell you we haven’t mentioned it in this camp. It’s a new year and a fresh start.”

Blues coach Brad Fittler said of the potential fireworks this week: “If you look at their team, they have a lot of combative players. You can’t walk away from that. That will be a pretty enjoyable part of the game.”

The first World Cup in five years was thought to have brought some love between the NSW and Queensland players, but as Pat Carrigan said before Christmas: “Having experienced Origin last year, I know it’s all bets are off in that arena.

“I’ve now got some mates for life there, but I know when Origin rolls around next year, especially after we got lucky and got the chocolates this year, the Blues boys will be teeing off, for sure.”

Hunt, meanwhile, said he had enjoyed the week away in camp after what has been another tough start to the year in clubland, including St George Illawarra’s decision to part ways with coach Anthony Griffin, a close friend of Hunt.

“I’ve spoken with Hook a couple of times. He’s alright, or as good as can be. It’s a tough industry, and he knows that,” Hunt said.

“It’s not nice to get away from the Dragons, I love the boys and the club and always want to help them out, but it’s good to freshen up mentally, get away from what’s going on there and just concentrate on Queensland.”

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