Maroons angry over dirty Blues - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Maroons angry over dirty Blues

By Wayne Heming 05/07/2010 04:59:50 PM Comments (0)

Queensland players will resist the temptation to use Wednesday night's "dead" Origin in Sydney to square up for what they believe has been a dirty series by a desperate Blues outfit.

Forward leader Petero Civoniceva put NSW on notice on Monday that Queensland had had a gutful of their dirty tactics.

"We've gone through the (game two) tapes and looked at some of the stuff that went on. I think it still burns deep," said the 26-game warrior.

"Origin's always got that chance of exploding and we saw that in the second game."

Despite the anger, the Maroons have vowed to maintain their steely discipline in Origin III in the hope of confirming their greatness with a clean sweep.

The players have watched a "lowlights" video package compiled by furious coach Mal Meninga, displaying unsavoury incidents and cheap shots employed by the Blues desperate bid to avoid an embarrassing fifth straight series loss.

Hooker Cameron Smith revealed his surprise at the amount of niggle that went unnoticed by referees during Queensland's 34-6 win at Suncorp Stadium.

"I wouldn't say I was surprised by it ..... I was probably more surprised at how much of it there was. It was pretty much every tackle," he said.

Smith knew there was plenty of niggle but didn't realise just how much until watching a replay.

"I didn't see it on the night but we've seen a clip where Sammy (Sam Thaiday) takes the ball up early in the game and Weyman (NSW forward Michael Weyman) grabs him by the hair and rips his head back.

"That stuff's a bit uncalled for.

"There's always going to be a bit of niggle when you know you're playing against a good side that you don't know how to stop."

With NSW reuniting renowned enforcers Greg Bird and Paul Gallen for Origin III, Smith isn't expecting any less on Wednesday night.

"We've already spoken about it and that we need to do," declared Smith.

"We've just got to keep a cool head, cop what they dish out.

"A few years ago blokes would have got up swinging and be filthy about what they've copped.

"We know you've just got to take your medicine and not get sucked in because that's what's best for the side."

Smith said Queensland's strength throughout the 2010 series had been discipline and refusal to get caught up in the niggle.

Even if they get well ahead on the scoreboard Smith doubts there'll be any square-ups.

"Maybe if we're up by 30 with five minutes to go the big boys might bung something on," he grinned,

"That's why we're a better footy side, we just worry about playing football and not putting in any of the other stuff.

"At this level, if you get caught up in that stuff it doesn't work, it just becomes a bash-a-thon."

"We've got a good enough football side to put points on the board rather than be putting forearms on someone's head or pulling hair."

Meninga's champion Queensland side can put the icing in their Origin cake by completing the state's first clean sweep since 1995 on Wednesday night.

"It's hard enough winning an Origin series let alone clean sweeping it," Smith said.

"But it would be nice and all the boys are pretty desperate to do it because we might not ever do it again."

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