Blues coach Brad Fittler slams match review committee’s ‘ridiculous’ Origin call

NSW coach Brad Fittler has slammed the NRL’s match review committee following this week’s State of Origin decider in Brisbane.

New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has called out the NRL’s match review committee following this week’s State of Origin decider in Brisbane.

The Maroons claimed a 22-12 win at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday to snatch the coveted Origin shield back from the Blues, but tempers boiled over early in the second half when Queensland centre Dane 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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In the post-match press conference, Fittler claimed that Burton was just defending himself, while 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.

Speaking on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show, Fittler fumed at the match review committee’s decision to fine Burton more than Fa’asuamaleaui.

“The problem I had with it was Graham Annesley had come out during the week and spoke about the third man in should be sin-binned,” he said on Sunday morning.

“Tino was the third man in and he could have done other things other than put (Burton) in a pretty aggressive head lock, and the way that got treated.

“The fact is at the end of the day when it went to the (MRC) Matt Burton actually got fined more money than Tino.

“Matt Burton got fined more than Tino. I find that absolutely ridiculous.”

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

Fittler also accused the NRL’s match review committee of inconsistency, referring to last weekend’s incident involving South Sydney Rabbitohs captain Latrell Mitchell, who sparked an all-in scuffle after dragging Newcastle Knights prop David Klemmer off his teammate.

“At the end of it Matt Burton has come out of it pretty ordinary, and to be fined more,” Fittler said.

“Given Annesley had come out during the week and spoke about the third man in should be sin-binned in regards to the Latrell Mitchell incident against Newcastle.

“I just found it really soft officiating.

“Afterwards, to see (the fines), I thought that was just hopeless.”

Originally published as Blues coach Brad Fittler slams match review committee’s ‘ridiculous’ Origin call