Photo reveals Origin star’s incredibly classy act after teammate KO’d

Dane Gagai found himself in hot water after impersonating a boxer during Wednesday’s Origin decider, but this unheralded act was pure class.

Dane Gagai found himself in hot water after impersonating a boxer during Wednesday’s Origin decider, but this unheralded act was all class.

Queensland centre Dane Gagai found himself in hot water when he was sin binned for impersonating a boxer during Wednesday’s State of Origin decider, but he was all class earlier in the enthralling contest.

The Maroons claimed a 22-12 win at Suncorp Stadium to snatch the coveted Origin shield back from the Blues, but tempers boiled over early in the second half when Gagai and NSW rival Matt Burton exchanged punches.

Both men were sent to the sin bin following the brief fisticuffs, later avoiding suspension and copping a fine worth 23 per cent of their match fee.

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Speaking to reporters in the post-match press conference, NSW coach Brad Fittler claimed that Burton was just defending himself.

“At the end of the day he didn’t initiate it, Burto,” he said.

“He’s not going to fight anyone.

“At the end of the day he’s got belted. He got penalised. We got the penalty. Then he got belted and put in a headlock and we walk out with one player down each.

“It’s a tad ridiculous. But it is what it is.”

Blues captain James Tedesco argued that Queensland forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui should have also been sent to the sin bin for holding Burton in a headlock during the brawl.

“I don’t know if he actually threw a punch, but I thought if he did he should have been sin-binned as well,” he said.

“That’s why he said Gagai was sin-binned because he threw punches, so I don’t know if Tino did that as well, but yeah.”

Why did Burton get binned? Gagai assaulted him while Tino held him around the neck … https://t.co/bWwSVA2w93

— Stephen Long (@StephenLongAus) July 13, 2022

So a fight breaks out between Gagai and Burton, and Fa'asuamaleaui tries to pull Burton’s head off. But Fa'asuamaleaui (who should have been sent off in the first half) stays on the field. Cool! #origin

— Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) July 13, 2022

However, an unheralded act from Gagai earlier in the Origin finale hasn’t received enough praise.

In the second minute of game three, Maroons young gun Selwyn Cobbo was knocked unconscious after crashing into the hip of teammate Patrick Carrigan.

A heated melee erupted after Queensland forward Josh Papali’i shoved Blues five-eighth Jarome Luai, but amid the chaos, Gagai sheltered Cobbo’s body to protect the 20-year-old from further injury.

“As soon as he went into that tackle I knew straight away it was bad,” Gagai explained.

“He was locked up and there were bodies all around. It was just looking after your mate. He would probably do the same for me.”

Huge huge credit to Dane Gagai here. Was scary to see Cobbo in that way, so glad to see amongst the craziness someone step in immediately to look after his welfare #Originpic.twitter.com/jY7JUJUqTV

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 13, 2022

Luai came under fire for standing over the unconscious Cobbo and offering some choice words rather than helping the dazed flyer.

The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley tweeted: “At some point someone has to say to Jarome Luai that enough is enough.

“Grow up. Don’t be a grub.

“It’s not acceptable to stand over an opposition player who is laying concussed on the ground and give him a gobful.

“Not even on the game’s toughest stage. It’s not tough.”

But Luai quickly defended his actions, claiming he “didn’t know” Cobbo had been knocked out and arguing he had nothing to apologise for.

“I actually didn’t know he was knocked out,” he said on Thursday.

“But that’s Origin, heat of the moment stuff. I play with a lot of passion.

“I spoke to him (Cobbo) after the game and he was all good, so good to see that.”

“I don’t think I have anything to apologise for.

“There wasn’t any harm. I didn’t touch him.”

Another great thing about being a #Queenslander is not having to cheer for Jarome Luai. He had nothing to do with this tackle nor the injury to Cobbo, but he still felt the need to rush over and stand over him and mouth off as if he’d somehow conquered him pic.twitter.com/7rsZdqXSYt

— Luke Bradnam (@LukeBradnam) July 13, 2022