Rugby League

Save
Print
License article

State of Origin 2017: Andrew Fifita riled by Josh McGuire's post-match sledge

587 reading now
Show comments

NSW prop Andrew Fifita has revealed a verbal tirade from the Queenslanders after full-time will be stored in the memory banks as motivation as the Blues head to Suncorp Stadium to try and clinch the series.

Fairfax Media understands Maroons lock Josh McGuire let fly with what has been described as a "disrespectful" sledge at Fifita as the exhausted Blues prop slumped to his haunches after full-time on Wednesday night.

Up Next

Maroons in awe of 'warrior' Thurston

null
Video duration
01:18

More Rugby League Videos

Devastated Blues look forward to Origin III

The Blues' Boyd Cordner reflects on the come-from-behind 18-16 win at ANZ Stadium from the Maroons, while looking to the future.

The exact remark from McGuire, who was embracing skipper Cameron Smith and front-rower Dylan Napa at the time, is unclear, with Fifita reluctant to reveal the specifics of the exchange.

But it won't be forgotten in a hurry, with the game one man-of-the-match vowing to use the spray as motivation when they head to Brisbane to gatecrash Johnathan Thurston's farewell party in three weeks' time.

"There'll be nothing better than us going up there and taking out the series on Queensland soil," Fifita said.

"I'm a bit bitter about it. They can carry on all they want at the end of the game there. It's one of those things – we will bank it and go into game three ready."

Advertisement

It wasn't the only time in the game McGuire went at Fifita. The Broncos lock executed an illegal cannonball tackle by diving into the legs of the Blues prop in the first half.

McGuire was clearly tasked with the responsibility of trying to eliminate the Fifita threat, but the Sharks enforcer laughed at his rival's attempt to unsettle him.

"I laughed at it. I knew they were going to come at it," Fifita said of the cannonball tackle.

"In any team, if you're one of the main players, they are going to try and take you out of the game. In saying that, he can dive at the leg all he wants. They're only little but they aren't breaking anything.

"I was laughing at things. They gave away a penalty on me, but I laughed it off. I think they wanted a reaction out of me. I don't think any of our boys reacted. We just got on with the job."

Fifita has history with the Queenslanders, and for more than just his talents on a football field.

His larger-than-life personality is often viewed as arrogance, while some of his decisions on the field have been questioned by the Maroons.

His decision to confront Gavin Cooper in game three last year after the Cowboys back-rower scored a try hasn't been forgotten.

Nor has the embarrassment he inflicted on the Queensland pack, when he ran over the top of them in game one. 

The Maroons did well to contain Fifita after he proved almost impossible to stop in the opening game of the series. Fifita admitted he felt the extra attention the Maroons gave him and credited Queensland for doing their homework on him.

But he said the wrestling in the ruck and the way the referees officiated the game only played into Queensland's hands and prevented him from having the desired impact.

"You could definitely feel it. They were [holding down] a lot longer than usual," Fifita said of the Maroons' wrestling tactics.

"There was a lot of niggling from both teams. It wasn't as fast as game one I could tell you that. The refs did their job. I felt like it was slower a bit. Game one was very fast. I think that's what [Queensland] wanted. They wanted to slow it down because I don't think they can keep up with us in the middle."

0 comments