Not content with claiming Trent Merrin’s “cheap shot” on Brent Tate summed up NSW’s disrespect for his all-conquering team, Queensland captain Cameron Smith compared it with Danny Williams’ infamous 2004 king hit that earned a record 18-week ban.
Smith said a humble Queensland had built their State of Origin dominance on a respect for their opposition – a quality he did not see when Merrin punched Tate in the face as he looked down to receive the ball at dummy half in game two.
Merrin received one week for the blow – but Smith said it reminded him of ex-Melbourne teammate Williams’ sickening NRL career-ending hit on Mark O’Neill nine years ago.
“The last person who threw a punch like that in a game when the bloke wasn’t looking got 16 (sic) weeks,” said Smith after an unchanged Queensland 17 was named for next week’s Origin decider in Sydney.
“It was Danny Williams and I was involved in that game.
“Punching a bloke when he is looking at the ground, that’s a cheap shot if you have ever seen one.
“I guess that would be one instance of (NSW) not showing respect for the opposition.”
Smith hinted Queensland had been given plenty of ammunition to sledge their rivals but had instead humbly built their remarkable run of seven straight Origin series wins that goes on the line next week.
“The reason I believe we have been so successful is that we have always shown NSW respect,” said Smith.
“It doesn’t matter what the media or public are saying – and they (NSW) have copped a fair bit of stick over several years.
“But we have always shown those guys respect when we have gone out on the field.
“If you don’t respect a team, you are going to get beaten.”
Smith also seemed unimpressed with NSW’s post-match reaction to the second half incident that prompted Merrin’s game two punch.
Blues halfback Mitchell Pearce initially hinted at exacting revenge on Billy Slater after copping a stray elbow to the face from the Maroons trump card in a tackle.
Slater was cleared over the incident but Pearce later told reporters: “Hopefully I’ll get him back.”
Reports emerged that Slater told Pearce after the elbow incident “one-all (expletive)”, indicating it was a get-square for an Origin I incident.
“There’s been much made of that incident but as I said to the referee on the night, it was a stray elbow,” Smith said.
“That happens every second tackle … it just happened to hit him in the face.
“Billy obviously hasn’t read too much into it.
“All of the noise is coming from down south.”
Scott Capell
Guest
By the way can you tell me who got the player of the match--yes Cameron Smith a true champion of the game......... GO YOU GOOD THING!!!!!!!!
Scott Capell
Guest
SO PROUD TO BE A QUEENSLANDER...... WHAT A FANTASTIC WIN AGAINST ALL ODDS IE 54,000 SCREAMING NSW FANS AND BIASED NSW REFS WITH AN APPALLING DISPLAY HOW SWEET IT IS !!!!!!! READ THE NEWSPAPERS AND WEEP FOR ANOTHER YEAR NSW--FACE IT .... YOU WERE BEATEN BY ONE OF THE TRULY REMARKABLE MODERN DAY SPORTING WONDERS....... ANZ STADIUM NO LONGER HOLDS ANY FEARS FOR US AND REMEMBER NEXT YEAR WE ARE GOING FOR 9 IN THIS REMARKABLE DYNASTY.......
Jonah Anthony
Roar Rookie
Haha, respect? Myles twisting Gallen's leg? Myles leading with the head, nearly crushing Robbie Farah's whole face? Brent Tate punching Paul Gallen in the play the ball last season, and then hitting Greg Bird when he was on the ground? Lockyer bombing Kurt Gidley because New South Wales won game 3 back in 2009? Greg Inglis holding onto Beau Scott and then punching him when he has something to say about it? Brent Tate pushing Gallen in game 2, and having a whinge because Trent Merrin stood up for his mate? Justin Hodges smacking Merrin across the face twice when he had a confrontation with Tate? Smith grinds my gears too much with the way he carries on during origin, good player, and I find him fine at club level and for Australia. But, Queensland can tell New South Wales are close, and they can't handle it. If New South Wales have won the game before the final 10 minutes in game 3, Queensland will niggle them and then complain when New South Wales win the fisty cuffs. Ricky Stuart said it last season, it is just Queensland rubbish. Don't buy into it New South Wales, go about your business your way; THE CLEAN WAY.
nopuritan
Guest
anyone else tip the sharkies this weekend? they always go good when paul (powderpuffpuncher) gallen isn't playing. prediction: gallen will not play in SOO game 3 he will be 'injured'. btw,'injured' is NSW code for an 'on field liability'. nsw's code for an 'off field liability' is 'coach' can't wait for that southern snivelling to start up again come the 18th July.
Doggystyles
Guest
Qld don't do dog shots just ask Matt Singh about punching Hopoate from behind when Hoppa was fighting Moore.
Mac
Guest
Good idea you've already made yourself look silly enough. Looking forward to Wednesday too :)
Renegade
Guest
Well if you believe your point stands....then i think Gallen's point stands as well.
V.O.R.
Guest
"unlike you I don’t hold professional sportsman up as messiahs and try to pretend they are perfect people. They are human like everyone else." ha, ha... you should become a politician...insinuations, putting words into peoples mouth's when you are disturbed by the truth so much you can't answer questions directly. Nice try Mac...it is to your States detriment that the type of thuggery that your silence condones is somehow justified and made acceptable. Pretend all you want. It's all the fuel QLD require...hence the reason for this article talking about Cheapshot Merrin. Got nothing more to add...this has gone full circle. Looking forward to Wednesday night. ;)
Mac
Guest
Time to let go VOR, unlike you I don't hold professional sportsman up as messiahs and try to pretend they are perfect people. They are human like everyone else. Truth be told I'm not a big fan of Gallan's interview style but then again i'm not a fan of Cam Smith leading the Australian team through a rendition of the QLD victory song either. Let go bud, your not breaking any new ground repeating yourself over and over in a desperate attempt to claim some sort of moral superiority that simply does not exist...
V.O.R.
Guest
..also what do you personally think about Paul Gallen's post match interviews where he consistently come across over the years as a bad sport...always blaming the referee...rarely giving recognition to the oppositions contribution to winning?? This will just help me work out whether you are fair dinkum or not.
V.O.R.
Guest
It's ok to be wrong Mac... I am able to admit it. Wally Lewis did say they should start a brawl. My point still stands however, and I can see that you have wisely chosen not to recognise it.. ".. You are saying that a guy who played the game 30 years ago, who played in an era of brawls, said something, that proves…what exactly??? …NEWS FLASH …a brawl does not have to mean Blind siding, disrespecting, cheap shots how ever you guys try and justify it…..and anyway….how does that rub off on how the current crop of QLD’ers have played the game in the last 8 years when compared to what the Blues thug brigade have brought to the arena?? You guys are grasping…nice try.."
V.O.R.
Guest
Yer that's it.. Good luck
Mac
Guest
In other words you agree you have no leg to stand on and the moral high ground was just a figment of your vast imagination :)
Mac
Guest
LOL so before you said it didn't happen and now that you realized you were wrong you change your story to suit your agenda. Time for a cup of tea and a lie down me thinks my friend ;)
V.O.R.
Guest
Yer, my bad... Wally is a dinosaur. I don't think he was suggesting for one moment that anyone blind side king hit their opposition. There is a difference...all the point that I have been making to the one-eyed blues on this forum. ;)
V.O.R.
Guest
Hey Mac.. We will obviously never agree...history however will show the culture you have bred down there. Good luck on Wednesday night.
V.O.R.
Guest
Ha, ha they're all coming outa the woods now... welcome Mac, was wondering when you where going to come in for the easy kill...so let me break this down.. You are saying that a guy who played the game 30 years ago, who played in an era of brawls, said something, that proves...what exactly??? ...NEWS FLASH ...a brawl does not have to mean Blind siding, disrespecting, cheap shots how ever you guys try and justify it.....and anyway....how does that rub off on how the current crop of QLD'ers have played the game in the last 8 years when compared to what the Blues thug brigade have brought to the arena?? You guys are grasping...nice try..
Darren Wyer
Guest
Typical qlder unless the facts suit your story you choose to ignore the facts no point trying to educate people who ignore facts and try to win arguments with opinions
V.O.R.
Guest
Dwyer, see above.. Tates action I am not defending but it was provoked by a very serious foul play that was let go by the referees. Already been discussed.. If that's all you have from the last 8 years of origin footy then my point is made clearly..thanks ‘NSW time and time again have tried the dirty tactics route to try and unsettle the Maroon juggernaut but champion sides don’t need to get in the gutter with the losing side. My mind wanders back to the Trent Barrett jaw breaking of Greg Inglis, Luke O’Donnell terrible spear tackle on Boyd then headbutt and punch on Dave Taylor, the treatment of a knocked out Steve Price by NSW forwards, and this years Blues behavior. BTW Thaiday only pushes and shoves as third man in, big deal it happens every NRL match.’. Hayne punching Thurston in game 1 last year. Jennings punching Tate in the back of the head. No serious person could compare how these two sides play the game. NSW has a consistent theme of foul play. Just own it Dwyer. It is fact.
Mac
Guest
Yep Wally Lewis said it after Cronk tackled Maloney and a penatly was blown in game 1. Wake up and smell the coffee son...