Two brutal Blues blows leave Maroons ‘fuming’ as fuse lit for fiery decider

The stage is set for a fiery State of Origin decider after two brutal moments involving Blues stars left a pair of key Maroons racing the clock.

Cameron Munster of the Maroons is assisted by medical staff after sufferinf a shoulder injury.

These are the two moments set to light a fuse under the State of Origin decider in Brisbane.

According to the Courier Mail, Queensland were fuming after tackles from Blues stars Nathan Cleary and Stephen Crichton left two key Maroons players in doubt for Game 3.

Queensland playmaker Cameron Munster revealed after the 44-12 loss in Perth that he suffered a shoulder injury early in the second half.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

“I pulled up a little bit sore 45 minutes into the game,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

“I got a shoulder from (Stephen) Crichton about five minutes into the second half. I tried my best but wasn’t good enough.”

Vision of the incident surfaced on social media on Monday and appears to show Crichton drive his shoulder into Munster as he was stood up in a tackle.

Cameron Munster left Origin 2 in a sling & will undergo scans after suffering a shoulder injury early in the 2nd half. Video brings concern for an AC joint injury with direct shoulder contact, if confirmed mostly a pain management issue but can require 2-4 weeks recovery. pic.twitter.com/JvQsR4ufCa

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 26, 2022

Crichton was cleared by the Match Review Committee but should Munster be ruled out, Queensland will feel aggrieved.

MRC commissioner Luke Patten defended the decision to clear Crichton on Monday.

“When Stephen Crichton joins the tackle he appears to be trying to wrap, but his space is taken by another defender,” Patten told News Corp.

“His actions were not careless.”

Munster had ice on his shoulder after the game and left the ground in a sling. The NRL Physio said the nature of the blow raised concerns he had suffered an AC joint injury which can result in two to four weeks on the sidelines.

Fullback Kalyn Ponga, meanwhile, was at the centre of the second incident.

Blues halfback Cleary raced out of the line and put a big hit on Ponga in the 70th minute.

Ponga was forced from the field for a head injury assessment with the Bunker determining the blow met the requirements of a category one concussion.

Cleary was placed on report but was not charged.

Ponga has since been ruled out of the Knights’ Round 16 clash with the Titans on Friday.

Speaking after the game, Queensland coach Billy Slater confirmed they would take a cautious approach with Ponga given his history of head knocks.

“He’s obviously copped a bit of a shot there to the head when he was hitting the ground,” Slater said.

“He staggered on the field so he came straight off, we made sure he came straight off and made sure he was OK.

“He obviously missed out on the [Penrith] game too with a head knock. We’ve got to make sure he’s OK. In the sheds he seems fine but the doctors will assess him.”

Originally published as Two brutal Blues blows leave Maroons ‘fuming’ as fuse lit for fiery decider