Blues enforcer Liam Martin and Maroons forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui have engaged in an entertaining running battle during Game II which has seen a spate of chippy encounters.
Martin forced two Fa’asuamaleaui errors from jarring big hits, and true to form, the Blues back rower wasn’t afraid to let his rival know about it, which led to a couple of small fracas.
“Oh what a tackle. A thunderous shot by Martin and he lets him know all about it,” Matt Thompson said on Channel 9 after Fa’asuamaleaui’s first error.
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“He loves it. Look at the reaction.”
Martin once again got into the face of the Titans star after forcing another error with a huge hit soon after.
However, the Maroons would get the next laugh, with Martin knocking one on after Val Holmes landed a terrific tackle.
“It has been physical and when it’s physical, errors will occur,” Darren Lockyer said on Channel 9.
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Blues pivot Jarome Luai was also involved in a questionable incident and was placed on report for his hand coming into contact with Reuben Cotter’s face in a tackle.
Referee Ashley Klein wasted no time in placing Luai on report and while he was not sent to the sin bin, he could be in hot water with the match review committee if his action was deemed deliberate and intentional.
Luai on report for suspected eye gouge | 00:41
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Referee Ashley Klein had to warn captains Isaah Yeo and Cam Munster for the several first half instances of “push and shove”.
“This is a warning. Players are running in right. There’s no need for that,” Klein said.
Later in the first half, Blues winger Zac Lomax got in on the action, placed on report for elbowing Maroons lock Trent Loiero.
“He lashed out. Just hit him in the head,” Maroons legend Cameron Smith said.
“That’s a lack of discipline there from Zac Lomax. Maybe a little bit of frustration.”
Lomax’s ill disicpline was one of eight penalties the Maroons received in the first half compared to the Blues’ zero.
Rookie Toia gets one over Latrell | 00:46
