Maroons prop's Origin plea for refs to 'let it slide'
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.
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.
"If it's a penalty game, obviously the spectators aren't going to enjoy that part.
"I'm sure the refs will work around that."
Faasuamaleaui missed last year's series with a long-term knee injury and, boasting three series wins from his four campaigns, looms as a difference maker in 2025.
"He's definitely influential," Fotuaika said.
"His presence; he's a big lad, when you have him beside you in that defensive line you have more confidence.
"It makes us a lot better.
"When Tino got the call on Sunday, after the Canberra game, he looked over at me and gave me the nod that I was getting the call after him.
"When Billy told me I would be starting alongside the big fella I was excited.
"Me and Tino have spoken about it. We want to lay the foundation for this team. We all know what we have to do."
Tough-as-nails North Queensland forward Reuben Cotter is in the same boat, taking last year's State of Origin series loss personally after the pack was outgunned in the second and third games.
Cotter has been named in the backrow but will likely spend time in the middle as he has in previous campaigns.
Tom Gilbert's pectoral injury will rule him out for a second-straight year, coach Billy Slater instead calling on rookies Trent Loiero and Beau Fermor to match it with the Blues.
"I dare say I'll find myself in the middle at some stage," Cotter told AAP.
"We're up for the fight for sure, with some troops back.
"Tino's a huge addition. Big Lindsay's (Collins) going good ... all our forwards are playing some good footy and it's good to have some size.
"Definitely we take it personally; we keep the focus on us, dial in, but nobody wants to lose at home."
Fullback Kalyn Ponga (leg) is yet to train fully with the squad but Fotuaika has no doubt he'll play next week.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
34 minutes ago
- News.com.au
$1m sacrifice as Reynolds rejects Sydney club for new Broncos deal — with one condition
Adam Reynolds has reportedly rejected a contract offer from Wests Tigers to finalise a one-year extension with the Brisbane Broncos, making a $1 million sacrifice to stay loyal. CODE Sports reported on Saturday night that the Broncos captain and halfback had just knocked back a $1.5 million, two-year Tigers offer with the intention of staying in Brisbane, where he has played since 2022 and settled with his family. The contract, for a season in which he will turn 36, would be for about $500,000 but come with the condition that post-playing career opportunities are included in the agreement. The Broncos would only entertain a one-year deal given Reynolds' age and their salary cap position. His deal for this year is reportedly worth about $550,000 and he has avoided a drastic cut, with claims earlier this season that the Broncos may only be able to offer $300,000. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Reynolds remains one of the NRL's premier game managers and kickers, and his retention will see him remain in the Brisbane halves mix with fellow veteran Ben Hunt and controversial star Ezra Mam. The touted future of the Broncos' playmaking stocks, Coby Black, is still learning his trade in Queensland Cup football. Reynolds would have partnered NSW Origin star Jarome Luai had he joined the Tigers, with Latu Fainu the club's longer-term prospect at No.7. 'Adam wants to finish his career at Brisbane,' his agent Steve Gillis said. 'His family is settled there, so that's what we are working towards.' Brisbane, who have a bye this weekend, are seventh on the ladder as of Sunday, having endured a rocky 6-7 start under new coach Michael Maguire. The club has been beset by claims about the coach's hardline approach leading to strained relationships with players, though Reynolds' finest NRL moment came when he won a premiership under Maguire with South Sydney in 2014. CODE also reported that the Broncos were set to announce a contract extension for gun centre Kotoni Staggs within the next week. The big unknown with their roster remains fellow flyer Selwyn Cobbo — who is off-contract, was dropped last week and could earn more at other clubs — while champion prop Payne Haas is weighing up the market despite a preference to stay at Brisbane
Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
How Payne Haas helped end Laurie Daley's first spell in charge of NSW
'I wrote back, 'Be careful of what?' He then showed me a photo of the Queensland whiteboard, which simply said, 'Andrew Fifita'. 'I remember showing 'Loz' [Daley] and laughing and saying, 'That's when you know you've made it in Origin'. 'Then I heard they brought in Payne. He was only a schoolboy at the time, but he was big and versatile, we played kind of the same, and he was meant to mimic me. 'I think Cronulla played the Broncos last year and I wanted to know what had happened. He told me he was young, he helped Queensland out, but there's no way he'd do it now. 'That series ended up being the last one for Loz. It definitely cost me my chance to win an Origin series. 'Payne's not on the big money for nothing. He's so versatile, and knows what to do. He offloads, he attacks out wide – he does things front-rowers shouldn't do.' Haas, who was named man of the match following the 18-6 win over Queensland in game one last month, said he was never entirely sure what he was getting himself into when the young Broncos were called in to run an opposed session with the Maroons, a side which featured the likes of Billy Slater – now the Maroons' coach – Cameron Smith, and front-rowers Josh McGuire, Wallace and Josh Papali'i. Now 24, Haas also revealed how supercoach Wayne Bennett asked him to pledge his allegiance to the Maroons while still only a teenager in the Broncos system. Haas moved from Newcastle to the Gold Coast when he was 13, and he spent a short time in the Maroons pathways, only for Haas to come to his senses. The only thing that would have made the images of a beardless Haas training with the Maroons would have been him wearing the Queensland training gear, which, thankfully, he was not. 'I didn't know what I was getting into that day, they asked us Broncos boys to come in for an opposed session, and they wanted me to be a Fifita clone,' Haas said. 'It was weird because I was from NSW. Now, when I think back on it, if they asked me to do the same, I'd be like, 'f--- that'. 'I knew a few of the Queensland boys, including Josh McGuire, so it wasn't too bad. It was a cool experience at the time. I was given a taste of Origin, and got to find out how the players prepare. You also find out how much the Queenslanders hate us. Living in Queensland, I already knew that. 'I wanted to go hard against them and see how I went. It was good practice for me and I enjoyed it. 'We were at Sanctuary Cove. I was a baby then. I watched that first Origin game and Fifita killed it. 'I remember the Maroons wanting me to play for them. I remember Wayne Bennett wanting me to play for Queensland, and how he was off me when I told him I wanted to play for NSW. I knew I was always a Blue.' When you point out his Fifita impersonation helped Queensland put an end to Fifita's dominance on that series, and essentially left Daley without a job, Haas shakes his head and says: 'Loz had a great career in Origin. He's back here now. I'm indebted to him.' Haas was a standout when playing for NSW in the under-16s and under-18s. Mark O'Meley, a NSW hardman in his own right, coached Haas, and recalled how the Broncos front-rower, along with his Blues teammate Spencer Leniu, were the only pair to ever run over the top of him while holding tackling pads. One of the teams Haas loved watching growing up in the early 2000s was O'Meley's Bulldogs, which also featured Sonny Bill Williams, Willie Mason and Roy Asotasi. Loading O'Meley said of Haas: 'He's hands down the best prop in the comp. Someone said the other day he hasn't proven himself in Origin, or won a grand final, but he's won [five] Paul Morgan Medals with Brisbane, and a few Dally M props of the year. To me, when you watch him, he's the benchmark.' The frightening thing about Haas is he went into game one on limited preparation because of a quad injury – and now runs on to Optus Stadium injury-free and with a full week's worth of training. He is one of the rare big men with enough leg speed to get wide and run at the halves, just as he did with Daly Cherry-Evans and Cam Munster nearly three weeks ago. As for being the best prop in the game – potentially ever – Haas said: 'I've never looked at it like that. That chat is for other people. I don't play for the accolades, I play to win premierships, to win games, to have fun with my teammates, enjoy being in the present, and be where my feet are. I'm loving my time in Brisbane, and I'm loving my time in Origin camp. ''Madge' [Broncos coach Michael Maguire] has got me believing in myself and my leadership qualities. He's pushed me to be a leader, and I'm trying to be that leader around the boys at my club. 'He didn't want me to hurt myself before game one. I wanted to play, I expressed that to Madge, and he said, 'If you want to play, go and play'. He had a lot of faith in me.'
The Age
5 hours ago
- The Age
How Payne Haas helped end Laurie Daley's first spell in charge of NSW
'I wrote back, 'Be careful of what?' He then showed me a photo of the Queensland whiteboard, which simply said, 'Andrew Fifita'. 'I remember showing 'Loz' [Daley] and laughing and saying, 'That's when you know you've made it in Origin'. 'Then I heard they brought in Payne. He was only a schoolboy at the time, but he was big and versatile, we played kind of the same, and he was meant to mimic me. 'I think Cronulla played the Broncos last year and I wanted to know what had happened. He told me he was young, he helped Queensland out, but there's no way he'd do it now. 'That series ended up being the last one for Loz. It definitely cost me my chance to win an Origin series. 'Payne's not on the big money for nothing. He's so versatile, and knows what to do. He offloads, he attacks out wide – he does things front-rowers shouldn't do.' Haas, who was named man of the match following the 18-6 win over Queensland in game one last month, said he was never entirely sure what he was getting himself into when the young Broncos were called in to run an opposed session with the Maroons, a side which featured the likes of Billy Slater – now the Maroons' coach – Cameron Smith, and front-rowers Josh McGuire, Wallace and Josh Papali'i. Now 24, Haas also revealed how supercoach Wayne Bennett asked him to pledge his allegiance to the Maroons while still only a teenager in the Broncos system. Haas moved from Newcastle to the Gold Coast when he was 13, and he spent a short time in the Maroons pathways, only for Haas to come to his senses. The only thing that would have made the images of a beardless Haas training with the Maroons would have been him wearing the Queensland training gear, which, thankfully, he was not. 'I didn't know what I was getting into that day, they asked us Broncos boys to come in for an opposed session, and they wanted me to be a Fifita clone,' Haas said. 'It was weird because I was from NSW. Now, when I think back on it, if they asked me to do the same, I'd be like, 'f--- that'. 'I knew a few of the Queensland boys, including Josh McGuire, so it wasn't too bad. It was a cool experience at the time. I was given a taste of Origin, and got to find out how the players prepare. You also find out how much the Queenslanders hate us. Living in Queensland, I already knew that. 'I wanted to go hard against them and see how I went. It was good practice for me and I enjoyed it. 'We were at Sanctuary Cove. I was a baby then. I watched that first Origin game and Fifita killed it. 'I remember the Maroons wanting me to play for them. I remember Wayne Bennett wanting me to play for Queensland, and how he was off me when I told him I wanted to play for NSW. I knew I was always a Blue.' When you point out his Fifita impersonation helped Queensland put an end to Fifita's dominance on that series, and essentially left Daley without a job, Haas shakes his head and says: 'Loz had a great career in Origin. He's back here now. I'm indebted to him.' Haas was a standout when playing for NSW in the under-16s and under-18s. Mark O'Meley, a NSW hardman in his own right, coached Haas, and recalled how the Broncos front-rower, along with his Blues teammate Spencer Leniu, were the only pair to ever run over the top of him while holding tackling pads. One of the teams Haas loved watching growing up in the early 2000s was O'Meley's Bulldogs, which also featured Sonny Bill Williams, Willie Mason and Roy Asotasi. Loading O'Meley said of Haas: 'He's hands down the best prop in the comp. Someone said the other day he hasn't proven himself in Origin, or won a grand final, but he's won [five] Paul Morgan Medals with Brisbane, and a few Dally M props of the year. To me, when you watch him, he's the benchmark.' The frightening thing about Haas is he went into game one on limited preparation because of a quad injury – and now runs on to Optus Stadium injury-free and with a full week's worth of training. He is one of the rare big men with enough leg speed to get wide and run at the halves, just as he did with Daly Cherry-Evans and Cam Munster nearly three weeks ago. As for being the best prop in the game – potentially ever – Haas said: 'I've never looked at it like that. That chat is for other people. I don't play for the accolades, I play to win premierships, to win games, to have fun with my teammates, enjoy being in the present, and be where my feet are. I'm loving my time in Brisbane, and I'm loving my time in Origin camp. ''Madge' [Broncos coach Michael Maguire] has got me believing in myself and my leadership qualities. He's pushed me to be a leader, and I'm trying to be that leader around the boys at my club. 'He didn't want me to hurt myself before game one. I wanted to play, I expressed that to Madge, and he said, 'If you want to play, go and play'. He had a lot of faith in me.'
