Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s sickening act the most disgraceful moment from State of Origin Game 3

In what world is it OK to hold a bloke being punched? Maroon Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was responsible for the most disgraceful act of the State of Origin decider - and it ended up costing NSW the series.

Tim Sheens is set to be announced as Wests Tigers coach. Picture: Toby Zerna

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui plays tough but in what world is it OK to hold a bloke being punched?

This is why the Queensland No.13 should have been sin binned, at a minimum, in Origin III. And why he should be waking today to the loss of far more than pocket change.

Of all the wonderful moments that defined a Suncorp Stadium decider – sorry, slobberknocker - now being hailed the Greatest Origin Ever, the decision by big Tino to grab NSW centre Matt Burton’s throat, from behind, midway through a stink … it was the ugliest.

Which is no small claim given some of the Blues brain explosions.

But to hold a fella being whacked?

C’mon man.

Which isn’t to say the submission was no good.

It was.

Right up there with an Iron Sheik Camel Clutch.

But the timing?

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Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (L) cranks on Matt Burton’s neck while Dane Gagai (R) lays into the Blues star. Picture: Channel 9

For those of us who waste more than a little time watching backyard brawls on YouTube – be it Jorge Masvidal, the late, great Kimbo Slice, or even two gypsys throwing hands by a caravan – you know there exists one great, unspoken rule.

Let ‘em bang.

Which is exactly what Burton and Dane Gagai were doing Wednesday night.

Missing mostly, but two blokes having at it in a moment that should have quickly played out as they gassed.

Yet the decision by Fa’asuamaleaui to turn an old fashioned stink into a two-on-one hijacking – in which Gagai fired off at least more five shots while Burton was being held – goes against everything such moments are supposed to represent.

Wasn’t like Gagai was in trouble, either.

Instead, he was getting the better of things.

And far better again once Burton was, increasingly, being strangled and dragged to the turf like some calf at the Mt Isa rodeo.

Which is why Fa’asuamaleaui is now Public Enemy No.1 in NSW.

Throw in too that swinging arm which, in a separate incident, and also on Burton, appeared to be thrown from so far back you reckon the Maroon’s enforcer likely launched it sometime during the anthem.

But again, nothing was done.

Or not really.

With the NRL releasing a charge sheet Thursday which revealed, with an early plea, the 22-year-old will lose 13 per cent of his match fee for the high tackle and just seven per cent - or roughly a grand - for the dangerous contact.

Burton (Blues) and Gagai (Maroons) exchange punches. Picture: Fox League

Fa’asuamaleaui was third man in. Picture: Fox League

Huh?

And I get our mates north of the border will likely be started on the Fa’asuamaleaui statue already.

Fair enough, too.

You know ... he may be a grub, but he’s our grub and all that.

It also cannot be denied that Fa’asuamaleaui was outstanding for Queensland.

Apart from running for 115m, or more than any Maroons forward not named Pat Carrigan, he also churned through 29 tackles, missing just one, and continually came up with the type of efforts not recorded by numbers.

Origin efforts.

But the decision to hold Burton while being punched?

It was uglier than socks with crocs.

Deserved more than a fine, too.

Just as it has us now asking where all this now puts the game?

Are we saying you can play Penrith and kayo Nathan Cleary for a tick over $1000? Or iron out South Sydney’s Cody Walker, or Nicho Hynes at Cronulla?

Two of your toughs just have at some young superstar, pay your fine and go full tilt into the next game.

Or premiership celebrations.

Only days ago, Melbourne’s Brandon Smith was outed three weeks for calling referee Adam Gee a cheating bastard.

Which was exactly the right call.

But using that scale, what should you get for holding, from behind, a bloke being punched?

Tino, Origin brawlers learn fate

Origin brawlers Matt Burton and Dane Gagai were both charged with grade two striking offences but will escape with fines after their wild stoush in Origin III.

Maroons forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was also hit with two charges from the game. The first, a grade two careless high tackle on Burton in the ninth minute, and grade one dangerous contact for his role in the 41st-minute brawl between Burton and Gagai.

NRL boss Peter V’landys has labelled the decider as “passion on steroids”, as questions are raised over the handling of Queensland forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui rushing in as third man in last night’s ugly brawl.

The decider descended into a moment of utter chaos when Maroons centre Gagai took exception to Burton falling over Queensland teammate Kalyn Ponga after the fullback made a break.

As the opposing centres stood toe-to-toe and traded blows, Fa’asuamaleaui rushed to the aid of Gagai as the third man in.

But not only did Fa’asuamaleaui run in as Gagai and Burton threw a flurry of punches, at one point the Gold Coast Titans forward can be seen holding the Blues centre in a headlock as Gagai continued to rain punches on Burton.

Gagai can be seen throwing at least two punches while Fa’asuamaleaui has Burton in his clutches.

Within seconds, Fa’asuamaleaui was joined by Maroons debutant Tom Gilbert, who can be seen giving Burton some extra attention leading into the brawl with his shoulder with Burton as the target.

Matt Burton was left with a clearly bruised cheekbone after full-time.

While referee Ashley Klein did not hesitate to sin bin Burton and Gagai for brawling in the second half, Fa’asuamaleaui somehow survived any scrutiny from the match official.

The Daily Telegraph contacted the ARLC Chairman about the ugly scenes which will dominate the headlines after Queensland sealed the series in one of the most brutal encounters in Origin history.

Asked about the biffo, NRL boss Peter V’landys said “the game has been brutal without the biffo. It was state passion on steroids”.

Fa’asuamaleaui might have escaped punishment for his involvement in the brawl last night, but the match review committee has charged the Titans skipper for a separate incident on Burton.

BUZZ: PATHETIC $3450 FINES FOR ORIGIN THUGGERY

The NRL should have come down harder on those involved in the State of Origin punch-up.

Instead the instigator Dane Gagai escapes with a pathetic $3450 fine – 23 per cent of his match fee.

This was a shocking look for a national television audience of more than three million.

Old-timers might have enjoyed the flashback to what was part of the game 20 years ago, especially in Origin.

But it’s no longer acceptable at a time when concussion and head injuries are such an issue, not just in rugby league but in sport globally.

The game devolved into chaos as players threw punches in Origin Game III. Picture: Getty Images.

This was the first time we’ve seen players trading punches in Origin since Paul Gallen bashed up Nate Myles back in 2013.

The match review committee should have at least suspended the instigator Dane Gagai, who led the assault on Blues centre Matt Burton.

They should also have given Queensland forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui time for coming in late and putting Burton in a headlock while he was being attacked by Gagai.

This sort of behaviour on a sporting field is unacceptable.

It was sickening to see two on one.

The match review rules were changed this year for State of Origin.

It was decided clubs should not be penalised for foul play in rep games.

So rather than hand out suspensions they issue fines.

This now is an open invitation for thuggery in Origin.

After receiving only minor fines for the brawl, this could be an open invitation for Origin thuggery, writes Phil Rothfield. Picture: NRL Imagery.

Last night we witnessed probably the greatest Origin game I’ve ever seen.

As Peter V’landys said it was “state passion on steroids.”

It’s just a shame that for 30 seconds two Queensland players took it too far.

They should be sitting out the next two rounds of football, not turning out for their club sides over the weekend.

Especially Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. He also collected Burton earlier in the game with a shocking swinging arm. In club football he would have got a month.

There has to be a deterrent to this sort of behaviour on a football field.

Origin is brutal enough without the rubbish we witnessed last night.

HIGHLIGHT

Knights forward and Blues debutant Jacob Saifiti, a surprise selection ahead of Reagan Campbell-Gillard, answered his critics with a barnstorming first-half try to give NSW a 12-6 lead. Freddy and Brandy got it right again.

LOWLIGHT

Three knockout blows in a wild opening four minutes that forced Cameron Murray, Selwyn Cobbo and Lindsay Collins from the field with category one concussions. It was disappointing Jarome Luai saw the need to abuse Cobbo while he was on the ground unconscious.

SHOOSH

The big story in rugby league this week will be the official announcement of Tim Sheens to coach the Wests Tigers. It will happen on Friday. A two-year deal.

Tim Sheens is set to be announced as Wests Tigers coach. Picture: Toby Zerna

SPOTTED

No-one had a bigger cheer squad at Suncorp than Blues halfback Nathan Cleary who spent a good portion of his match payment on 24 tickets for his uncle Jason Death, Josh Stuart and family and friends.

Players get four free tickets but pay for the rest.

SPOTTED

Knights front-rower Daniel Saifiti in Brisbane to watch his twin brother Jacob in his NSW Blues debut.

SPOTTED

Olympic swimming legend Dawn Fraser in the NRL suite alongside a couple of NSW politicians – the premier Dominic Perrottet and Stuart Ayres in Brisbane.

SPOTTED

Independent commission chairman Peter V’landys checking out his latest property venture – the NRL’s $25 million purchase of Gambaro Hotel and restaurant on Caxton Street.

SHOOSH

Which mad punter had $1000 on out-of-form Canberra Raiders Josh Papalii to win the man-of-the-match award with the TAB at odds of $101.

Josh Papalii trains with the Maroons Picture: Nigel Hallett

SHOOSH

James Tedesco and Nathan Cleary were easily the best backed for man of the match. Tedesco held 43 per cent of the market at $5 and Nathan Cleary had 20 per cent of the pool at $4.

The best backed Queenslander, once Cameron Munster got Covid, was Ben Hunt at $21 with five per cent of the market. Matt Burton was the best backed for first try scorer at $14.

He held 12 per cent of the bets.

360 VIEW

Catch you on Thursday night on NRL 360 with Braith Anasta, Paul Kent, Michael Ennis, Gorden Tallis and Benny Elias to look at all the biggest issues from the State of Origin decider.

Originally published as Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s sickening act the most disgraceful moment from State of Origin Game 3