State of Origin 2017: How Andrew Fifita bends the rules when he runs the ball

SEE the pictures that prove Blues forward Andrew Fifita is bending the rules nearly every time he runs the ball.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — MAY 31: Andrew Fifita of the Blues smiles at the crowd after scoring a try during game one of the State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on May 31, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

BLUES star Andrew Fifita has been exposed for bending the rules to help his team gain an attacking edge in Origin I.

In devastating form for NSW in Game One, Fifita destroyed the Queensland team through the middle with his imposing physique and blockbusting runs.

But it can be revealed that at least 50 per cent of his hit-ups should have been penalised, with Fifita failing to play the ball correctly on multiple occasions.

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Of the 12 times the Blues enforcer had to play the ball, he failed to reach the NRL standards six times, making no effort to roll the ball with his foot.

Fifita often makes no attempt to play the ball with his foot.

According to the NRL’s own guidelines, a player must make a genuine attempt to play the ball with the foot.

Fifita has attracted condemnation for this tactic, with Queensland legend Gorden Tallis calling for referees to crack down on the monster forward in Game Two on Wednesday night.

While it would not have changed the result in Game One, Tallis says it is a common theme within Fifita’s game and it gives his teams — both Cronulla and NSW — a massive advantage.

“He’s taken it to a whole new level,” Tallis said.

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“Sometimes it doesn’t even go underneath his leg. It’s the quickest play-the-ball in the game.

“You have to make an effort … The advantage it gives his team is unbelievable.

“Origin is the showpiece of our game. As much as you like to say refereeing is different at that level, it shouldn’t be different.

“The referees should be applauded for their effort in Game One but they need to watch this.

“If every other player starts doing it, it’s a bad look for the game.”

Fifita is well known for his questionable work around the ruck.

The Sharks prop was NSW’s most damaging player in Game One.

Queensland is so wary of what he can produce again, that they trained with a special focus on him.

At their first full session on the Gold Coast, the Maroons went through a drill where they had one of their forwards pretending to run as Fifita.

The likes of Dylan Napa and Josh McGuire would don a white bib and run as if they were the Blues forward, allowing Queensland to practice how they would shut him down.

Fifita is effectively cheating.

Utility Michael Morgan said afterwards that the team weren’t prepared for the impact he brought in Origin I but would not make that mistake this time around.

“We didn’t go into it singling him out,” Morgan said of Game One.

“We’d be silly not to do a bit of preparation on him as an individual (this time).

“He really stood out in Game One … He’s got really good footwork, he’s a different shape body and is hard to handle.

“It’s taking nothing away from their other forwards but the drill (yesterday) was just to make sure we’re clicked into what’s going on.”