Blues tactics slammed

BRISBANE: Tempers flared in extraordinary scenes at Suncorp Stadium as both Dane Gagai and Matt Burton were sent to the sin bin after a fiery clash in game three of the State of Origin series last night.
All the initial focus was on Daly Cherry-Evans as the Queensland halfback claimed a try but in the background Gagai and Burton were trading blows.
Replays would later show Burton appear to run at Kalyn Ponga, taking the Maroons fullback out, which did not go down well with Gagai.
“Just watch Burton now… he runs straight through Ponga,” Queensland legend Cameron Smith said in commentary for Channel 9.
“Dane Gagai, he sees that and he’s not happy with the way his fullback was treated.”
The Queensland centre then ran in and threw a flurry of punches at Burton, with the Blues young gun responding with a few of his own in defence.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui also then came in shortly after to help out his Queensland mate and Burton quickly found himself outnumbered before his Blues teammates arrived in numbers. What followed was an all-in melee as tempers boiled over, with Burton and Gagai both sent to the sin bin — although Gagai could have considered himself lucky not to be sent off.
Cherry-Evans, meanwhile, was clearly not impressed with some of the Blues’ tactics, overheard telling referee Ashley Klein “they can’t keep doing that shit”.
It is unclear what exactly Cherry-Evans was referring to, although it only added to the drama, with Klein telling the Queensland skipper he was “not going to argue” with him.
“That is not acceptable,” Klein said of the incident before sending both Burton and Gagai off for ten minutes.
— Fox Sports.

Marshall shows interest in coaching Wests Tigers

SYDNEY: Benji Marshall has revealed his aspirations to coach his beloved Wests Tigers, throwing his hat in the ring to work under Tim Sheens.
Sheens has reportedly signed a two-year deal to take over as the Tigers head coach after Michael Maguire was sacked last month.
The 71-year-old Sheens has been working as the Tigers’ head of football, but will now reportedly return to the head coaching role that he left in 2012.
Sheens coached the Tigers for 250 games after first taking the role in 2003, leading the joint venture to their maiden premiership in 2005.
After a failed bid to lure Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo, the Tigers have reportedly convinced Sheens to step back into the hot seat.
National Rugby League (NRL) reporter Michelle Bishop revealed on Tuesday that Sheens has agreed to a two-year deal and will be working with Marshall and Robbie Farah in part-time roles.
Discussing the development on NRL 360 on Tuesday night, Marshall revealed his aspirations to be head coach of the Tigers one day.
“The dream for me would be to be an NRL coach and at the Wests Tigers would be an ideal situation,” Marshall said.
“Obviously it has been reported that Tim Sheens is going to get the job and mentor someone.
“If the opportunity was for me to be mentored under him with a pathway to become a head coach it is something I would consider.
“I love my job that I do now, but that is an opportunity that I might never get again. The opportunity to try and become a head coach.
“So if they do go down that path and ask me I would definitely be interested and consider that.”
Marshall said it would be a dream to coach at the Tigers after playing 257 games for the club across two separate stints.
“If the view is a genuine pathway to become a head coach,” Marshall said. “I sort of do that (assistant and skills coach) with the kids now anyway.”
— Yahoo Sports

Luai cops criticism after disresptful act

BRISBANE: New South Wales (NSW) Blues five-eighth Jarome Luai has come under fire for standing over Queensland flyer Selwyn Cobbo, who was taken off in a stretcher after a sickening head clash.
The incident was the third head knock of the opening stages to the State of Origin decider with Cameron Murray and Lindsay Collins also going off for head injury assessments.
However, it was Cobbo who copped friendly fire from a teammate that was the most brutal and was met with Luai standing over the top of him, which sparked an all in melee.
“There’s a Queenslander down on the fall. It’s Selwyn Cobbo. Oh, no, this young man, he’s in Disneyland,” commentator Mat Thompson said.
“Selwyn Cobbo, some obvious concern as is the case when there’s any issues with the head or there’s any issues with the head or the neck region.
“All the Queensland medical staff having a look and they are asking for the stretcher.
“Now, that’s the blow that saw Cameron Murray sidelined. Corey Oates running back with real venom and then this one.”
Andrew Johns was stunned by the intensity from both sides.
“Early in the game, when it’s really on, we can see how physical, what was your mindset going into big collisions like this,” Johns said.
Cameron Smith backed up Johns’ assessment on the intensity of the opening stages.
“Wow. I think it was technique first but the way both of these sides have started, Joey, it’s all-out warfare,” Smith said.
“It shows everyone watching at home and in the stands, what this means to both football teams.”
Johns compared the breakneck start to the contest to Origin of old in the 1980s.
“Not for a long time, not like this,” Johns said when asked if he had seen an Origin like this.
“With tackling techniques that have changed over the years, they don’t like to drive in so much with their shoulders, it is all about control.
This is…this is a throw back to the ‘80s. That’s three off.”
Meanwhile, Social media blew up with reaction to the brutal start to the Origin finale.
Comments online were directed towards Luai and his lack of respect who the injured who layed flat on the field following the friendly fire with Carrigan.
A concerned Dane Gagai was later seen hovering over Cobbo to protect him after a scuffle broke out.
— Fox Sports