NRL Issues Harsh Penalties Following State of Origin Sideline Brawl
In a dramatic aftermath to the State of Origin decider, the NRL has handed out significant penalties to New South Wales’ Haumole Olakau’atu and Cameron Murray, including bans of at least two games and fines totaling $39,000. This comes in response to a sideline brawl that erupted during the Blues’ first series win in three years.
Major Suspensions and Fines
Both Murray and Olakau’atu received grade-three contrary conduct charges on Thursday. Their involvement in the brawl, which saw Olakau’atu joining the fracas while wearing a suit jacket as NSW’s 19th man, resulted in two-game bans. Should they contest the suspensions and lose, the bans will extend to three matches, casting a shadow over the Blues’ 14-4 victory.
The NRL’s strict measures aim to send a clear message following the melee, which saw benches cleared and multiple players involved. Eight other players were fined for their participation, with amounts ranging from $3,000 to $6,000.
Impact on Teams and Players
Jeremiah Nanai, Brian To’o, Reuben Cotter, and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow each received $6,000 fines. NSW’s Matt Burton and Payne Haas, along with Queensland’s Felise Kaufusi, were fined $3,000 each. These fines can be reduced by 33% with an early guilty plea.
Queensland second-rower Kurt Capewell faces $6,000 in fines for separate dangerous-throw and dangerous-contact charges. Meanwhile, Queensland and Brisbane star Reece Walsh escaped sanction despite being placed on report for an incident involving Stephen Crichton.
Controversy and Reactions
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans criticized the leniency shown towards Murray, suggesting he should have been sent off rather than sin-binned. “I feel pretty clear that’s pretty unacceptable at any level of footy,” Cherry-Evans commented. However, he defended Olakau’atu’s character, noting his surprise at his teammate’s involvement.
Olakau’atu’s suspension will see him miss crucial games against Gold Coast and the Sydney Roosters, impacting Manly’s finals hopes. NSW captain Jake Trbojevic acknowledged the blow to their team: “We’ve lost probably our best player. I suppose it shows you can’t do that.”
Similarly, Murray’s suspension is a significant setback for South Sydney, who are already struggling with injuries to key players like Latrell Mitchell.
A Dramatic Conclusion
The penalties mark a dramatic conclusion to one of the most eventful State of Origin series in recent memory. As the dust settles, the NRL’s tough stance on misconduct aims to maintain the integrity of the game, even as teams and players navigate the repercussions of their actions.
