Sledging fires up prop star
NEW South Wales prop Andrew Fifita has accused Queensland of poor sportsmanship after they taunted him in a bitter aftermath to the Maroons’ come- from- behind State of Origin victory on Wednesday night.
Setting the scene for an explosive Origin decider, Fifita said the Blues would “bank” the Maroons’ questionable behaviour and use it as motivation for the Suncorp Stadium clash on July 12.
Fifita fully expected to be targeted after he embarrassed the Maroons forwards in Game One, forcing Queensland into seven personnel changes in one of the all- time great Origin performances.
But Fifita revealed the sledging was not limited to just during the game, revealing Maroons players jeered him and his fellow Blues after the final whistle in their 18- 16 defeat.
The Cronulla forward, who in a show of support went out of his way after the match to congratulate Tim Glasby on his debut, refused to divulge who the offenders were or what they said.
But he was upset about the team’s performance, not the Maroons’ lack of class.
“They can carry on all they want at the end of the game there,” Fifita said. “It’s one of those things we will bank it and go into Game Three ready. I was laughing at things. I think they wanted a reaction out of you.
“There’ll be nothing better than us going up there and taking out the series on Queensland soil.”