State of Origin 2017: Andrew Fifita accuses Queensland Maroons of taunting Blues after State of Origin epic

ANDREW Fifita has accused Queensland of poor sportsmanship after they taunted him in a bitter aftermath to the Maroons’ State of Origin win.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — JUNE 21: Andrew Fifita of the Blues is tackled during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 21, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

NEW South Wales prop Andrew Fifita has accused Queensland of poor sportsmanship after they taunted him in a bitter aftermath to the Maroons’ come-from-behind State of Origin victory on Wednesday night.

Setting the scene for an explosive Origin decider, Fifita said the Blues would “bank” the Maroons’ questionable behaviour and use it as motivation for the Suncorp Stadium clash on July 12.

Fifita fully expected to be targeted after he embarrassed the Maroons forwards in game one, forcing Queensland into seven personnel changes in one of the all-time great Origin performances.

But Fifita revealed the sledging was not limited to just during the game, revealing Maroons players side jeered him and his fellow Blues after the final whistle in their 18-16 defeat.

The Cronulla forward, who in a show of support went out of his way after the match to congratulate Tim Glasby on his debut, refused to divulge who the offenders were or what they said.

But he was upset about the team’s performance, not the Maroons’ lack of class.

“They can carry on all they want at the end of the game there,” Fifita said. “It’s one of those things we will bank it and go into game three ready. I was laughing at things. I think they wanted a reaction out of you.

“I don’t think any of our boys reacted. We just got on with the job. There’ll be nothing better than us going up there and taking out the series on Queensland soil. We had our opportunities. I’m a bit bitter about it.”

Fifita and McGuire clashed several times in the middle of the field.

Aside from Queensland’s verbal offerings, Fifita came in for some extra attention physically. He knew he was a marked man with the Maroons able to nullify his impact.

Fifita criticised Queensland lock and Josh McGuire for attacking his legs early in the match.

“I laughed at it,” Fifita said of the extra focus Queensland placed on him.

“I knew they were going to come at it. In any team, if you’re one of the main players they are going to try and take you out of the game.

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In saying that, (McGuire) can dive at the leg all he wants. They’re only little (legs) but they aren’t breaking anything.”

The Blues changed their preparation in the lead-up to game two, having stayed in the NSW far north coastal town of Kingscliff for all but the final night of their Origin I preparations.

They spent the entirety of this camp in Sydney, sharing their time at The Star and Sydney Olympic Park. Fifita said getting out of Sydney and spending time together had helped them upset Queensland in Brisbane.

Fifita was well contained after dominating Game I.

“I think this loss will be a good thing for us,” Fifita said. “We’ll be ready to go for game three.

“We’re not at The Star or the Novotel here. We’ll go up into our own little camp. It’s a great place and all the boys are that tight. If someone is moving we’re all moving.

“We’re there until the Tuesday. I can’t wait to go up there in three weeks, it’ll be the best preparation for us.

“It was tough at The Star. I was on level 16, there were a few of us on level 16, but we couldn’t even get down to level 11. It was a bit different in the casino.

“It wasn’t as bad as I first thought it was going to be. Loz (coach Laurie Daley) gave us time to go home on the Friday to the family to regenerate. That’s respect to him. Moving forward, nothing beats being up in [Kingscliff] away from everyone else.”