LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Rugby League legend Cameron Smith has thrown his support behind the push for tougher sanctions against Haumole Olakau'atu.
The former Queensland Maroons star expressed his disappointment over Olakau'atu receiving only a two-week suspension for his role in a heated altercation during Game 3 of the 2024 State of Origin series.
The scuffle, which erupted during the first half of the Blues' victory at Suncorp Stadium, initially involved Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and NSW playmaker Jarome Luai.
However, the drama swiftly escalated and spilled over into the interchange area.
In the aftermath, Queenslander Jeremiah Nanai found himself sin-binned for getting involved as the third man, while Cameron Murray, who was on the bench at the time, also received a stint in the sin bin for his participation.
Murray narrowly avoided being sent off and slapped with a two-game suspension, while Olakau'atu, despite not being on the field as the Blues' 19th man and dressed in formal attire, was handed a two-match ban for his role in the altercation.
Despite calls for Olakau'atu to face a judiciary hearing, the match review committee opted to allow him to serve his suspension with an early guilty plea.
Smith, known for his strong stance on discipline, believes the incident warrants a more severe punishment to deter such behavior in the future.