State of Origin Game 3: Jarome Luai under fire for standing over a concussed Selwyn Cobbo

Jarome Luai has put himself in Origin folklore for all the wrong reasons, standing over concussed player on the ground and sledging him. It’s time to grow up, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.

Siosifa Talakai had a tough night for the Blues. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

At some point someone has to say to Jarome Luai enough is enough.

Grow up. Don’t be a grub.

It’s not acceptable to stand over an opposition player who is laying concussed on the ground and give him a gobful.

Not even on the game’s toughest stage.

It’s not tough.

And surely not even the game’s biggest pest could be proud of that.

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On a night NSW will want to forget, Luai put himself in State of Origin folklore for all the wrong reasons.

Queenslanders certainly won’t forget or forgive him in a hurry.

But how do even NSW fans excuse Luai’s behaviour?

Seriously.

Jarome Laui stands over Selwyn Cobbo and sledges him while concussed on the ground.

That’s one of the ugliest and most spitefully immature incidents we’ve seen on a footy field in years.

And it’s such a shame it had to happen on this night.

When the players from both teams really stood up and gave us a match to remember.

What a game.

Brawls, big hits, brilliance and spine tingling bravery.

The opening exchanges were just chaos.

Cam Murray, Cobbo and Lindsay Collins were all knocked out of the game inside the first five minutes.

Cameron Smith said he couldn’t remember a more brutal start. “I can’t say we’ve seen the hits we’ve seen tonight. It’s unbelievable,” Smith told Nine.

In the end it was Queensland who secured a famous 22-12 victory.

Cooper Cronk told Fox Sports it rated in his top two Origins of all time.

Given what the Maroons were up against going into the decider without Cameron Munster, it was as good a win as Queensland has ever celebrated.

But the one moment we didn’t need was Luai’s moment of madness.

Pat Carrigan and Josh Papalii were furious over Luai’s actions and a scuffle ensued. Picture: Getty Images.

For years we’ve been watching the Penrith and Blues playmaker push the boundaries when it comes to getting under the skin of opponents.

But no one ever wants to pull him up for it.

Maybe it’s time.

It was as crystal clear to everyone watching that Cobbo was in another world as he laid on the Suncorp Stadium turf after copping some friendly fire from Pat Carrigan.

But no one had a better view than Luai who was staring down straight on top of Cobbo.

And still he went on with it.

It sparked a melee with the Queenslanders understandably upset.

Josh Papalii was the first in and he looked like he wanted to rip Luai’s throat out.

But he controlled himself.

Even then Luai still pumped out his chest.

After receiving medical treatment Cobbo was eventually carted off on a stretcher and ruled out of the game.

We’ve seen ugly incidents before in Origin like the time Jai Arrow tried to drag a concussed James Tedesco to his feet.

But at least Arrow had the excuse that he didn’t know Teddy was injured.

Let’s hope Luai wakes up to himself after this because you just don’t need incidents like it in the game.

FREDDIE’S SELECTION BLUE COMES BACK TO BITE NSW

—Brent Read

A penny for Jack Wighton’s thoughts as he watched the final minutes at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

Wighton was there, helpless on the sidelines, as NSW centre Stephen Crichton threw a wayward pass that almost revived memories of the Phil Sigsworth’s hail Mary 40 years ago.

By the grace of God, NSW escaped without suffering any damage this time round. Wighton was watching as Crichton missed the tackle on Valentine Homes that led to Queensland’s opening try.

Wighton was watching as Siosifa Talakai came on in the second half and dropped the ball only a matter of centimetres from his own try line.

He was watching as Talakai slipped off Kalyn Ponga for the moment that decided the match, when the Maroons fullback forced his way over.

Blues coach Brad Fittler moved to the sideline to watch the second half at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

NSW coach Brad Fittler rightfully has enormous credit in the bank after winning three of his first four series in charge but coaches live and die on their selections and on that front, he has had a series to forget.

He got it wrong in Origin I as NSW were stunned on home turf. Fittler responded by making a handful of changes to the side for the return match at Optus Stadium in Perth and it worked a treat as the Blues ran riot.

BLUES PLAYER RATINGS: WHO BOMBED OUT?

He then had some fresh decisions to make. Latrell Mitchell took one out of his hand when he pulled out of contention for Origin III, insisting others deserved to be there.

Wighton was available though and there were three schools of thought. One was that he should come into the side in the centres in place of Crichton.

The second was that he take Talakai’s place on the bench. Fittler took the third option — leave him out altogether and go with the side that levelled the series in Perth.

Siosifa Talakai had a mixed night off the bench for the Blues. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

It was a decision he may live to regret after the Blues were beaten in the decider. Wighton may not have made a difference. Perhaps the result would have been the same.

We will never know. What we do know is that Crichton and Talakai had nights to forget as NSW lost against a Queensland side that was willed home by a crowd of more than 50,000 at the home of the Maroons.

Wighton may have missed the tackle on Holmes given the quality of the pass from Tom Dearden. He may have missed the tackle on Ponga as well given the fullback’s unerring ability to deceive defenders.

Wondering what might have been will cloud Fittler’s mind for days to come, maybe weeks. His predecessor Laurie Daley got shingles after he lost his first series, such was the stress and disappointment he felt.

Fittler will have some sleepless nights too as he reflects on some of his choices in this series. Leaving out Wighton will no doubt linger prominently in those thoughts.

Originally published as State of Origin Game 3: Jarome Luai under fire for standing over a concussed Selwyn Cobbo