LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In the lead-up to State of Origin 1, Queensland prop Moeaki Fotuaika has expressed a desire for match officials Ashley Klein and Chris Butler to "let a few slide," hoping that the game will not be marred by frequent sin-bins.
Last year, Joseph Suaalii received a send-off for a late tackle on Reece Walsh, and in Game 2 of the series, Liam Martin and Patrick Carrigan were both sin-binned.
Similarly, Jeremiah Nanai and Cameron Murray also faced the same fate in the decider.
The NRL had implemented a crackdown on high contact this season, which resulted in an influx of sin-bins during one round.
Although this crackdown has since been diminished, Fotuaika is hopeful that the officials will exercise discretion and avoid excessive penalties in the upcoming match.
Ashley Klein is set to officiate on-field while Chris Butler will serve as the Bunker official.
Fotuaika and his Titans teammate Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will be at the forefront for the Maroons, aiming to set an aggressive tone from the outset.
However, the Titans rank among the highest in the NRL for penalties related to high-contact violations, which places the Maroons props in a precarious position regarding their physical play.
"Controlling that aggression ...
sometimes you can go a bit over the top," Fotuaika acknowledged, emphasizing the importance of finding a balance.
He added, "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."
State of Origin has historically been officiated differently than regular club matches, though recent years have seen increased emphasis on head protection.
Fotuaika, eager for his 10th Origin match, looks forward to teaming up with Fa'asuamaleaui, who missed last year's series due to injury.
This sentiment reflects a common hope among players that the intensity and excitement of the game will be preserved by the referees, allowing for a thrilling spectacle for fans.