Maroons prop's Origin plea for refs to ‘let it slide'

Sydney Morning Herald

22-05-2025

Moeaki Fotuaika has urged officials to 'let a few slide' when addressing how the NRL's high-shot crackdown might impact the State of Origin opener.
The Gold Coast prop has been named to start alongside clubmate Tino Faasuamaleaui in Wednesday's first game in Brisbane.
And, on the back of a series-deciding loss at Suncorp Stadium last year, the pair have made a pact to 'lay the foundation' with physical defence.
Complicating that is the fact there has never been a greater NRL focus on high contact.
There were a record 18 sin-bins recorded in one round earlier this year with the Titans, at the time, the most penalised team for high-contact indiscretions.
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Ahead of his 10th appearance for Queensland, Fotuaika said there was a need to manage aggression but also a hope the Origin arena would be adjudicated differently to club level.
'Controlling that aggression ... sometimes you can go a bit over the top,' he said on Thursday from camp on the Sunshine Coast.
'Hoping, because it's an Origin game, they can sort of let a few slide.