Stuart picks Hayne ahead of Origin III

Selected ... Jarryd Hayne picked for the Eels, but Ricky Stuart knows the risks. Source: Dan Himbrechts / AAP

NSW State of Origin star Jarryd Hayne has been named in Parramatta's NRL side to play Manly on Monday, but coach Ricky Stuart will take no risks with his marquee player.

The gifted utility back suffered a grade-one hamstring injury last month, when he backed up for Parramatta two days after playing in the first Origin game against Queensland.

NSW selectors will need to take a leap of faith if choose Hayne for the July 17 Origin III decider, with the team for game three to be picked the day before his scheduled return.

Last-placed Parramatta have won just three of 14 games this season and desperately need the spark that Hayne can provide.

Stuart stressed Hayne's wellbeing was his priority, but said playing a club game would be the best preparation for Origin.

"I'm going to name him - that's not a 100 per cent guarantee that he's going to play,'' Stuart said.

"I think he needs to be fairly healthy on the back end of our week.

"It's not do-or-die for us to get him onto the football field. The main priority is Jarryd's well-being.

"We definitely won't risk him in regards to rushing him back.

"He'll be a very, very positive attribute to have on the field if we can get him right and it will also be great for him to get a game under his belt before Origin three, which I think would be the best preparation for him.''

Stuart praised the professionalism of his players, 12 of whom were recently told they would not be required for next season.

"We're all getting on with the job. I've got to give credit to the players in regards to not getting the results we're striving for at the moment. But that hasn't been indicated with their attitude and performance at training and around the club.

"They've been terrific. They are a good bunch of blokes,'' Stuart said.

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Pies 'must beat Blues'

Rivalry ... Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says the Pies 'must beat the Blues'. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley admits his misfiring AFL side have reached a critical point in the season.

Last weekend's 35-point loss to Port Adelaide has left the Magpies looking vulnerable in eighth place ahead of the Friday night blockbuster against arch-rivals Carlton at the MCG.

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Hawthorn	13	12	0	1	144.98	48
2	Geelong	13	11	0	2	128.85	44
3	Essendon	13	10	0	3	129.51	40
4	Sydney	13	9	1	3	131.15	38
5	Fremantle	13	9	1	3	124.55	38
6	Richmond	13	9	0	4	124.39	36
7	Port Adelaide	13	8	0	5	118.17	32
8	Collingwood	13	8	0	5	104.79	32
9	Carlton	13	6	0	7	113.90	24
10	West Coast	13	6	0	7	110.02	24
11	Adelaide	13	6	0	7	105.72	24
12	North Melbourne	13	5	0	8	114.25	20
13	Gold Coast	13	5	0	8	90.94	20
14	Brisbane	13	4	0	9	74.34	16
15	St Kilda	13	3	0	10	85.61	12
16	Bulldogs	13	3	0	10	75.19	12
17	Melbourne	13	2	0	11	54.01	8
18	Greater Western Sydney	13	0	0	13	50.16	0

Asked what sort of response he expected from his players against the Blues, Buckley bluntly said: "a pretty strong one''.

Forget all the standard AFL talk about one game at a time - this is a massive test for Collingwood.

"I'm a process-orientated coach and we're a process-orientated football club,'' he said.

"But you get to games you have to win and this is one of them.

"Carlton are a very strong opposition - we knew Port Adelaide were going to be a very strong opposition.

"It's going to be a great challenge for us, a great test - Friday night, big game, rivals over a number of years.

"What better way to stake a claim?''

Buckley said his side were not lazy, but acknowledged they were embarrassed by Port's better work rate.

While the 'Pies remain two games ahead of ninth-placed Carlton, they have failed to build any momentum this season.

Their long injury list will ease a little this weekend when last year's best-and-fairest winner Dayne Beams and utility Tyson Goldsack resume through the VFL.

But Buckley said Collingwood need the pair to rebuild match fitness quickly, otherwise they will run out of time as the finals loom.

"We don't want to be waiting until round 21-22 to be putting our best side together,'' he said.

"We've missed Beamsy, we've missed Goldy - we would like to get those blokes in.

"But it's got to be a case-by-case - if they're right to go, they'll come in. If not, then they'll get the extra week.''

Quinten Lynch's fitness remains a concern, with the ruck-forward nursing an injury and unable to complete full training.

Regardless of personnel, Buckley is demanding a more consistent effort from his team.

"We've been bitterly disappointed with our five losses and they come from five of the seven teams above us,'' he said.

"We're where we deserve to be, right now.

"But we need to play our best football, more often, and leave the other stuff behind us.'' 

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Hayne plane to soar in Origin bid

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Return ... Jarryd Hayne looks to prove his fitness ahead of State of Origin III. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne has been named to return for Monday's game against Manly as he looks to prove his fitness ahead of State of Origin III.

While Hayne's replacement for Origin II, St George Illawarra fullback Josh Dugan, will miss the Roosters clash through suspension, with rookie Adam Quinlan filling the void.

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The Dragons get back Trent Merrin following his one-game ban for fighting in Origin II.

Gold Coast coach John Cartwright is banking on the infectious enthusiasm of his batch of NRL debutants helping the Titans get their finals push back on track against surprise packets Penrith on Saturday night.

		W	L	D	B	PD	Pts
1	Rabbitohs	13	2	0	1	177	28
2	Roosters	11	4	0	1	145	24
3	Storm	10	4	1	1	95	23
4	Sea Eagles	7	6	1	2	67	19
5	Titans	8	7	0	1	17	18
6	Sharks	7	7	0	2	-16	18
7	Bulldogs	8	7	0	1	-23	18
8	Knights	7	8	0	1	71	16
9	Panthers	6	8	0	2	36	16
10	Warriors	7	8	0	1	-64	16
11	Raiders	7	8	0	1	-66	16
12	Broncos	6	9	0	1	-5	14
13	Cowboys	6	9	0	1	-17	14
14	Tigers	6	9	0	1	-157	14
15	Dragons	5	10	0	1	-79	12
16	Eels	3	11	0	2	-181	10

The Titans were woeful when hammered 46-16 by Newcastle on Sunday - the heavy loss compounded by the season-ending injury to Jamal Idris (broken leg, dislocated ankle) and one-week unavailability of William Zillman (groin).

With winger Anthony Don also relegated to an extended bench after his opposite James McManus scored four tries for the Knights, Cartwright will blood under 20s stars Jahrome Hughes and Hymel Hunt against the Panthers in Darwin - Hughes at fullback for Zillman and Hunt in the centres for Idris.

"Particularly the last six weeks, they've been doing great things for our 20s,'' Cartwright said of Hughes and Hunt.

"What they're going to bring is plenty of enthusiasm out of everyone else.

"Just the excitement that you could feel as soon as the boys knew they were flying up here - after a really disappointing performance against Newcastle - it gave us a bit of a boost to see those guys up here.''

The Titans missed a chance to move into the top four with the loss to the Knights, but could drop to the bottom of the top eight with another defeat to the Panthers.

South Sydney coach Michael Maguire has named Burgess twins George and Tom on an extended bench for Sunday's highly anticipated game against the Warriors in Perth for what could be their first NRL match together, with George returning from a club-imposed ban.

Veteran Cronulla centre Ben Pomeroy has been dropped for Friday night's crunch game against Wests Tigers, with NSW back-rower Luke Lewis to turn back the clock by lining up in the centres.

The Sea Eagles regaining the services of Kieran Foran after he missed Monday night's loss to the Sydney Roosters due to illness.

Canberra's three-quarter woes have resulted in Joel Thompson being named in the centres, with Jack Wighton - who remains in doubt to face North Queensland on Sunday with a groin injury - pushing out to the wing to replace Sandor Earl.

Earl is out for six weeks after dislocating his elbow against Souths on Friday night.

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Sims, Dugan face bans

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Ashton Sims ... faces the NRL judiciary after a kneeing incident. Source: Robb Cox / AAP

North Queensland forward Ashton Sims faces a three-week suspension after being charged by the NRL for kneeing Nathan Stapleton in the Cowboys' win over the Sharks on Sunday.

If he pleads guilty Sims will be ruled out for two weeks but if he contests the grade two charge and loses he will face a further week on the sideline.

If ruled out Sims will miss this weekend's clash against the Raiders, a crucial game for both teams who are sitting two points outside the eight on 16 points.

State of Origin fullback Josh Dugan will also miss a week if he pleads guilty to a shoulder charge on opposite number Matt Moylan in the Dragons' loss to the Panthers on Saturday night.

He also risks a further week on the sideline if he contests the charge and then loses.

Dugan's teammate Nathan Fien will be free to play with an early guilty plea to a dangerous contact charge following an incident with Lewis Brown.

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Hamstrung Warburton out of decider

Blow ... Lions skipper Sam Warburton will play no part in the series decider. Source: William West / AAP

Shattered Lions skipper Sam Warburton is out of the series-deciding Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday night after scans confirmed a significant hamstring tear.

Flanker Warburton limped of late in the British and Irish Lions' 16-15 loss to the Wallabies in Melbourne last Saturday night but any chance for him to be part of a bounce-back has been cruelling ripped from him.

Warburton remained in Melbourne on Sunday when his squad-mates headed to Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast  for their final test camp.

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Lions team doctor Eanna Falvey was with Warburton when a full assessment revealed what the Lions camp today announced as "a significant tear in his left hamstring" which means "no further part in the tour."

Welshman Warburton played one of his finest Tests last weekend when his breakdown work earned several penalties and pilfers.

He will be sorely missed. It opens the door for Ireland's Sean O'Brien or Welsh countryman Justin Tipuric to wear the No.7 in the deciding Test.

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It also casts centre Brian O'Driscoll as captain-elect because the tourists have now lost two players who have captained the Lions...Warburton and lock Paul O'Connell (broken arm).

"It is incredibly disappointing to be ruled out of the tour through injury as we head to Sydney for the deciding match," Warburton said.

"I wish the team all the best and hope I can play some part in the build-up this week.

"I am confident the boys can finish the job off and secure the series win."

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AFL proposes an end to compensation

Changes ... AFL operations boss Mark Evans has asked clubs for feedback. Source: JULIAN SMITH / AAP

The AFL has asked clubs to comment on a suggestion they should not receive draft picks as compensation for the loss of unrestricted free agents.

AFL general manager of football operations Mark Evans said on Monday the concept was worth a look.

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Hawthorn	13	12	0	1	144.98	48
2	Geelong	13	11	0	2	128.85	44
3	Essendon	13	10	0	3	129.51	40
4	Sydney	13	9	1	3	131.15	38
5	Fremantle	13	9	1	3	124.55	38
6	Richmond	13	9	0	4	124.39	36
7	Port Adelaide	13	8	0	5	118.17	32
8	Collingwood	13	8	0	5	104.79	32
9	Carlton	13	6	0	7	113.90	24
10	West Coast	13	6	0	7	110.02	24
11	Adelaide	13	6	0	7	105.72	24
12	North Melbourne	13	5	0	8	114.25	20
13	Gold Coast	13	5	0	8	90.94	20
14	Brisbane	13	4	0	9	74.34	16
15	St Kilda	13	3	0	10	85.61	12
16	Bulldogs	13	3	0	10	75.19	12
17	Melbourne	13	2	0	11	54.01	8
18	Greater Western Sydney	13	0	0	13	50.16	0

"We've put it on the table to clubs to tell us what they think,'' Evans told the AFL website.

"I don't think we'll change anything for this year.

"But there has been a strong suggestion that you don't need to provide free-agency compensation for players who are unrestricted free agents.

"That either means they have been on the list for eight years and they sit outside the top quartile of player payments, or they've been at that club for 10 years and they've given their service.

"So I think that's worthwhile looking at.''

An unrestricted free agent can automatically move to the club of his choice.

Hawthorn's star forward Lance Franklin, who is reportedly the subject of a massive offer from Greater Western Sydney, is a restricted free agent.

The Hawks would have the option to match any offer made by a rival club.

Under this system introduced in 2012, compensation in the form of allocated draft picks will apply to clubs with a net loss of free agents based on a formula determined by the AFL.

Former Hawthorn football manager Evans, who was appointed to his new role in March 2013, denied his early-season move to league headquarters had played a role in the average number of free kicks being lowered.

The AFL's umpiring department has been praised in recent weeks for putting the whistle away.

"No instruction. Nothing from me at all,'' he said.

However, Evans is determined to take a hands-on role in trying to clear up some of what he calls the confusion over the match review panel.

"I'm prepared to look at some things at the end of the year in our normal review of the tribunal and match review panel,'' he said.

"But for me, it might be about creating more clarity for people so they understand the impact of prior record or good record or carry-over points or trying to make those things simpler.

"I'm sure there'll be some other tweaks along the way.

"I accept that there can be confusion within that. You really have to study the impact of those points to try to work it out.

"The person listening to the outcome really looks at weeks. Is it a reprimand?

"Did it get off? Did it end up with one week, two weeks, three weeks?

"We need to try to find a way to communicate that better.''

Evans praised last summer's changes where prior records were only counted within the past two years, and only any sanctions of two matches or more were included in assessments of carry-over points.

"That has helped but it still creates confusion in the public,'' he said.

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Warriors down Broncos in nail-biter

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Shaun Johnson ... looks to pass the ball during Warriors v Broncos match. Source: WAYNE DROUGHT / AAP

A decisive late intercept by Konrad Hurrell helped the Warriors pull off an 18-16 win over Brisbane on Sunday in a nail-biter in Auckland and stretch their NRL winning streak to five matches.

3 Tries 3
Manu Vatuvei 10'	Lachlan Maranta 17'
Elijah Taylor 38'	Peter Wallace 32'
Konrad Hurrell 71'	Josh Hoffman 46'
3 Conversions 2
Shaun Johnson 12'	Scott Prince 33'
Shaun Johnson 40'	Scott Prince 48'
Shaun Johnson 73'

With nine minutes to go, Brisbane looked certain to extend their 16-12 lead.

But Hurrell intercepted a Scott Prince cut-out pass intended for unmarked winger Lachlan Maranta.

He then sprinted 90m, evading hard-chasing Brisbane skipper Sam Thaiday to dot down under the posts and give Shaun Johnson a simple conversion.

Warriors coach Matthew Elliott described Hurrell's intervention as massive, with Brisbane almost certain to score if it hadn't come off.

"It was a make-or-break play, but that's what NRL quality footballers have to do sometimes,'' he said.

"They have to come up with the big decisions."

With seconds remaining, Brisbane had the chance to send the encounter into extra time, but Corey Parker pushed a 48-metre penalty attempt wide.

It was tense finish to a physical and high-quality contest, with Brisbane completing 90 per cent of their sets (35 from 39).

The home side weren't far behind with 86 per cent (32 from 37), but they were often on the back foot.

Elliott said the Warriors looked like a team coming off a bye, but he also praised the Broncos.

"Our execution wasn't great," he said.

"But again, I think I'm being too hard of a marker because of the quality of the opposition and the amount of defence we had to do did impact upon our attack."

The Warriors' rebound from their 62-6 thrashing by Penrith just over a month ago has taken them to 10th on the ladder, while Brisbane drop to 12th.

Coach Anthony Griffin said the Broncos were 10 minutes from a great win, and it was a display his players would be proud of.

But the effort they put in also made the defeat tougher to take.

"There was an awful amount of effort and discipline and just mental toughness that went into that performance," he said.

"Sometimes, they go against you and that's when they hurt the most."

Four weeks ago, the Warriors overwhelmed an understrength Brisbane line-up 56-18.

A similar result was never likely with the Broncos welcoming back their Queensland State of Origin quartet, including Thaiday, who was one of their best.

The opening half was a seesawing one, but Brisbane controlled proceedings in the second.

Down 12-10, they hit the front in the 47th minute when winger Josh Hoffman grabbed his 13th try of the season.

They had other chances before it looked certain they had the numbers to put Maranta over, before Hurrell intervened.

Both teams had late scratchings, with Warriors prop Russell Packer (ankle) and Broncos counterpart Ben Hannant (calf) withdrawn because of injury.

The Warriors' early dominance was rewarded with a try to winger Manu Vatuvei.

Brisbane replied a Prince pinpoint grubber gave Maranta a simple touchdown.

They hit the front after the Warriors failed to defuse a bomb and halfback Peter Wallace toed ahead and scored.

But the Warriors surged ahead again just before halftime when Vatuvei batted back a Johnson cross-kick for lock Elijah Taylor to score a converted try.

Vatuvei hobbled off early in the second half after copping a whack to his right shin.

He will have a precautionary x-ray but medical staff believe he might have escaped with a bad contusion.

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Chooks want controlled agro from JWH

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JWH ... the Roosters prop returns from suspension to tackle rival Manly. Source: Renee McKay / AAP

The Sydney Roosters will be looking for controlled aggression from feisty prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as he makes his NRL return from suspension on Monday against the Manly outfit he crossed the line against last outing.

Waerea-Hargreaves was sent off and banned for five weeks for hitting Sea Eagles prop George Rose with a high shot in the Roosters' 16-4 win at Brookvale last month.

He makes his return in a high-stakes clash at Allianz Stadium between the third and fourth-placed teams.

The Roosters will climb above Melbourne into second if they win, while a Manly victory will move the Sea Eagles to within one point of the Roosters.

		W	L	D	B	PD	Pts
1	Rabbitohs	13	2	0	1	177	28
2	Storm	10	4	1	1	95	23
3	Roosters	10	4	0	1	139	22
4	Sea Eagles	7	5	1	2	73	19
5	Titans	8	7	0	1	17	18
6	Sharks	7	6	0	2	4	18
7	Bulldogs	8	7	0	1	-23	18
8	Knights	7	8	0	1	71	16
9	Panthers	6	8	0	2	36	16
10	Warriors	7	8	0	1	-64	16
11	Raiders	7	8	0	1	-66	16
12	Broncos	6	9	0	1	-5	14
13	Tigers	6	9	0	1	-157	14
14	Cowboys	5	9	0	1	-37	12
15	Dragons	5	10	0	1	-79	12
16	Eels	3	11	0	2	-181	10

Roosters captain and fullback Anthony Minichiello said Waerea-Hargreaves was excited about playing again, but was also aware of the potential for the Kiwi international to get too pumped up.

"You've got to speak to Jared about that because he likes to play the game tough and aggressive on a weekly basis and when he's been out for five weeks that can all build up,'' Minichiello said.

"We need some controlled aggression from him tomorrow night.''

Manly coach Geoff Toovey admitted the Roosters were a more formidable proposition with Waerea-Hargreaves in their line-up.

"He's a great leader of their forwards and I think they've missed him a little bit and he'll add something to their pack,'' Toovey said.

Toovey insisted there'd be no retribution eked out by his side, saying the Eagles were more intent on breaking down the Roosters' league-best defence than seeking payback against Waerea-Hargreaves.

"To crack the opposition defence you need to come up with something special or pray on their mistakes,'' he said.

"They did that better than us last time and hopefully we can return the favour.''

"It's a very close competition in the middle of the pack so we need to start stringing a few games together, a few wins, and hopefully clear ourselves away from that pack.''

Toovey received a boost on Sunday, with tryscoring ace Brett Stewart completing Manly captain's run to be in line for his first start since round eight.

The former Test fullback suffered a chipped bone in his back after copping a knee during Manly's six-point win over St George Illawarra and the Sea Eagles have won one of their past five games in his absence.

Stewart is no certainty to play, with Toovey waiting to see how he pulls up on Monday and the coach said Manly fans shouldn't expect miracles if he does start.

"If he's fit, he'll definitely add some experience.

"But he's been out for a long time. It's one of those injuries where he hasn't been able to participate in team activities.

"So it will take a little time for him to find his feet but there's still half a comp to go.''

With NSW five-eighth James Maloney injured in last week's State of Origin clash, Daniel Mortimer will retain a starting spot for the Roosters after an excellent display against the Bulldogs.

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Kangaroos stroll to victory

Comprehensive ... Drew Petrie leads Tim Mohr to the contest. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Greater Western Sydney have taken a step closer to an unwanted piece of AFL history with their 86-point hammering by North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Giants have now lost all 13 matches this season, and are closing in on being the first team in AFL/VFL history since Fitzroy in 1964 to go through a season winless.

Critical to the Giants breaking their duck this season appears next Saturday's clash with fellow strugglers Western Bulldogs in Canberra.

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Hawthorn	13	12	0	1	144.98	48
2	Geelong	13	11	0	2	128.85	44
3	Essendon	13	10	0	3	129.51	40
4	Sydney	13	9	1	3	131.15	38
5	Fremantle	13	9	1	3	124.55	38
6	Richmond	13	9	0	4	124.39	36
7	Port Adelaide	13	8	0	5	118.17	32
8	Collingwood	13	8	0	5	104.79	32
9	Carlton	13	6	0	7	113.90	24
10	West Coast	13	6	0	7	110.02	24
11	Adelaide	13	6	0	7	105.72	24
12	North Melbourne	13	5	0	8	114.25	20
13	Gold Coast	13	5	0	8	90.94	20
14	Brisbane	13	4	0	9	74.34	16
15	St Kilda	13	3	0	10	85.61	12
16	Bulldogs	13	3	0	10	75.19	12
17	Melbourne	13	2	0	11	54.01	8
18	Greater Western Sydney	13	0	0	13	50.16	0

The Bulldogs lost to another battling side in Melbourne this weekend, and have won just three of their 13 matches this campaign.

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Sheedy admitted he had not considered the prospect of the team going through their sophomore season without a win.

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But he admitted the importance of the Bulldogs game had been a topic of post-match conversation after the Giants' 19.16 (130) to 6.8 (44) defeat by a dominant North in an otherwise forgettable game.

"It's an opportunity for us to try and search for our first win, and I've been speaking about that to the players,'' Sheedy said.

"I haven't thought about that (the prospect of a winless season) to be honest.

"The task you take on when you try to build this club from the real, deep foundation ... is you suffer some losses early like the Brisbane Bears did and the Swans did.''

The Giants' hopes of an upset were extinguished by the end of the first quarter - the Kangaroos piling on an eight goals to one term to set up the victory.

Drew Petrie booted five goals and Lindsay Thomas four for the Kangaroos.

GWS moved into damage limitation mode in the second term by putting players behind the ball - a tactic which worked to a degree as the sides booted four goals apiece in the quarter.

But the Kangaroos had the better of a dire second half, restricting the Giants to just one goal as the visitors continued to play extra men behind the ball for the rest of the match.

North now have a 5-8 win-loss record, keeping alive their faint chances of making this season's finals.

Coach Brad Scott admitted he was pleased with how his team had coped with the Giants' unusual defensive tactics.

"The main thing we take away from that is the opposition threw something pretty strange at us, and we were able to respond really quickly,'' Scott said.

"I called for an organised effort from our boys, and after halftime we really got that.''

North's only concern to come out of the match centres on Thomas, who faces match review panel scrutiny after what appeared a possible headbutt on Giants youngster Jacob Townsend.

The Giants lost leading goal kicker Jeremy Cameron before kick-off to illness, with Sheedy confident he will return to play the Bulldogs.

Click here to see all of the stats and scores in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

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Inglis fumes over Merrin 'dog shot'

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Fuming ... Greg Inglis is unimpressed with Trent Merrin. Source: Adam Head / News Limited

Greg Inglis has slammed NSW forward Trent Merrin for a "dog shot" on Brent Tate in Wednesday night's spiteful Origin clash.

Merrin was sent to the sin bin for his punches on Tate as the match erupted in an all-in brawl mid-way through the second half.

Merrin on Thursday morning pleaded guilty to a striking charge and will miss St George-Illawarra's clash against the Panthers at Centrebet Stadium on Saturday night.

Tate, Greg Bird and Justin Hodges were also binned over the fracas, leaving both sides with just 11 players.

Only Merrin and Hodges were cited by the match review committee, although Hodges won't miss any matches despite taking the early guilty plea to a contrary conduct charge today.

"It's pretty bad when you're looking down trying to pick the ball up and all of a sudden you're hit by a fist when you're not looking at the opponent," Inglis said today.

"So I think, in the end, he has every right to call it a dog shot."

Tate was baffled when he faced reporters today.

"I am still not sure what I got sent off for," Tate said.

"If we are sending people off for that, there won't be too many players left on the field.

"But at the end of the day, we have to worry about the image of the game and the message we are sending to the young kids."

Tate said he did not see Merrin's punch coming.

"I was going to get the ball out of dummy-half," he said.

"I was as surprised as anyone when I wore one.

"But it's an Origin match. Those things happen, they boil over.

"I am glad Hodgo had my back."

Maroons prop Matt Scott said Tate's binning was "a bit harsh".

"He was looking down at the ruck (when hit)," he said.

"People push people off tackles in the play-the-ball all the time. There was no reason to throw a punch.

"But there were two passionate teams and that stuff is bound to happen."

Queensland coach Mal Meninga said it was "fair enough" sin-binning a player for punching but hoped what happened to Tate prompted a re-think of the NRL strict new fighting rules.

"What happened was not conducive to four players being sent to the sin bin," he said.

"Then you have a ridiculous scenario of 11 on 11 playing Origin footy when it is so quick.

"We need to look at it again and come up with some reasonable outcomes.

"Both sides have put in a tremendous effort and the headlines are going to be about what happened with four blokes."

- with AAP 

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