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Blues have edge of discipline over Maroons

3 minute read

NSW might not get a home game until Origin III but they have the advantage of better discipline over Queensland coming into Wednesday night's series opener.

FELISE KAUFUSI.
FELISE KAUFUSI. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Image.

NSW are saints compared to Queensland's bad boys with the Blues players having less charges, less suspensions and giving away less penalties so far this NRL season.

It's feared new rule changes will have a detrimental impact on the free-flowing spectacle of State of Origin, but to avoid it costing either state a series discipline will be key.

If NRL form is anything to go by, the advantage is not in favour of the Maroons.

Queensland firebrand Felise Kaufusi is the most penalised player in either State of Origin camp this year with seven offences for the season with Melbourne.

He adds his penalty count to 59 overall for the season from the Maroons' expected 18-man squad compared to just 47 from the Blues.

Kaufusi has copped it too at the judiciary, with two charges and a fortnight on the sidelines, which contributes to nine players charged for 12 offences and nine games missed by the Maroons squad.

South Sydney centre Latrell Mitchell lends his whopping four-match ban and three charges to a total of nine offences and seven games missed between six Blues players.

Kaufusi's high penalty count is closely followed by Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (six), Kyle Feldt (six), Daly Cherry-Evans (six) and Jarome Luai (six).

Blues debutant Luai has the highest penalty count in the NSW squad but discipline has already been addressed within camp with an Origin game in Townsville on the line.

"We've had a couple of games under our belts now where the rules have changed, so we've all played under those new rules," Luai told AAP.

"There's not much we can do about it but whoever (is more disciplined) will win the game.

"We need to adapt to that."

Tom Trbojevic (NSW) and Xavier Coates (Qld) are the only two players in either Origin camp without a rap sheet or penalty against them this year.

There are nerves about how referee Gerard Sutton will officiate the opener in Townsville, but both camps have put the onus on their players to be disciplined and avoid any contact with the head.

Ex-NRL referee Gavin Badger was on field controlling Blues training on Thursday to ready the side.

"They've been doing it in the NRL so I feel like they've got to show consistency in Origin," said Blues skipper James Tedesco.

"But we've got to be aware of it because those sinbins and [being] down to 12 men can really change a game.

"It's up to us players to be aware of that.

"We can't be against it or have negative attitude towards it.

"We need to embrace it and do our best to be disciplined."

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