Ben Te'o steps up but Maroons teammates clearly unfocused

PLAYING Origin I exactly two weeks after assault claims were made against him, Ben Te'o was solid but his teammates were clearly unfocused.

PLAYING his second State of Origin game exactly two weeks after assault claims were made against him, Ben Te'o may have performed solidly but his Maroons teammates were clearly unfocused.

Only Queensland's inner sanctum will truly know if their team was distracted because of the continuing police investigation into claims Te'o assaulted Brisbane woman Katie Lewis earlier this year.

But Queensland's opening 40 minutes was their worst since Game One, 2006.

In that match the Maroons also conceded 14 unanswered points in the first half.

Considering the intensity Mal Meninga's men lacked at ANZ Stadium last night, there is strong evidence the cloud hanging over Te'o had a negative impact on the team.

Te'o's dramas began on May 22, when Lewis told Channel 9 news the backrower punched her after a night out in April, allegations Te'o denies.

Lewis then made a formal complaint to Ferny Grove police last week.

Te'o had to leave Maroons camp to be interviewed by police, as did his teammate Darius Boyd, who was present when the alleged incident took place.

Queensland Rugby League officials followed the lead of the NRL and South Sydney Rabbitohs who ruled Te'o was innocent until proven otherwise.

Simply leaving Te'o out of the team as Queensland great Steve Renouf suggested would have been a common-sense decision.

Last night, Queensland's four-backrower bench made little impact when they were brought on.

Former Blues centre and now radio commentator Ryan Girdler said on air the Queensland bench was almost speechless as the Blues shot to a 14-0 lead early.

"I'm sitting next to the Queensland bench, they are very quiet, almost stunned," he said.

In the first half Te'o, introduced at the 27th-minute mark, and Parker were used and they combined for 67m.

Te'o did not make an error.

It is believed police will make a decision on whether there are grounds to charge Te'o within the next 10 days.