Add Category
In short:
Ten players have been charged for misconduct during State of Origin Game III, with nine players charged for a first half melee.
Haumole Olakau'atu and Cameron Murray are the only players facing suspension.
What's next?
Those wanting to fight their charges have a short time to make that decision, with round 20 of the NRL starting on Friday night.
NSW's Haumole Olakau'atu and Cameron Murray are facing two-match suspensions following the Blues' State of Origin series-deciding victory.
Olakau'atu and Murray were both hit with grade-three contrary conduct charges on Thursday morning, after running into a first-half melee from NSW's bench at Lang Park on Wednesday night.
ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL and NRL seasons in 2024.
Seven other players — Queensland's Jeremiah Nanai, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Reuben Cotter, Felise Kaufusi and NSW's Brian To'o, Matt Burton and Payne Haas — were also charged with contrary conduct over the melee but can escape with fines.
There had been a suggestion that Olakau'atu could face up to four matches out due to prior offences, but they do not carry over from club matches.
Murray was sin-binned for charging into the melee, which was instigated by Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and Blues five-eighth Jarome Luai.
Olakau'atu, the Blues' 18th man, was evicted from the playing arena after his involvement, and was forced to watch NSW lift the shield from the tunnel.
Cherry-Evans was adamant after the game that Murray should have been sent off, labelling his actions as "unacceptable".
But NSW coach Michael Maguire came to the defence of the Blues pair, suggesting it was a positive they had stuck up for their teammates.
"When you look at that moment, Cam Murray is one of the nicest blokes in the game," he said.
"He plays the game to perfection. He obviously went down there because he cares for one of his teammates.
"I've known Cameron for a long time, never thought he'd jump into something like that, but it just goes to show what the group mean to each other."
Maroons forward Kurt Capewell was also charged twice from the match — for a dangerous throw on Stephen Crichton in the ninth minute and dangerous contact on Mitchell Moses in the 14th minute.
He is facing fines for both charges.
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.
AAP