Titans and Maroons prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has escaped sanction and will be available for State of Origin selection, after a clash that left Tigers hooker Api Koproisau with a broken jaw, in the 28-12 win over the Tigers.
The consensus was Fa’asuamaleaui ‘s hopes of playing in Origin II were in doubt, with even Maroons selector Darren Lockyer admitting after Thursday night’s match, the Titans skipper was bound for the judiciary after he was placed on report for raising his arm in a tackle that caught Koroisau, the Blues’ incumbent hooker.
However, the NRL match review committee has released its findings from Thursday night’s clash, and found no player had a case to answer.
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The Titans skipper told media after the match journalists were “building up” his ball-carrying technique, and the clash with Koroisau was similar to his contact with Canterbury’s Reed Mahoney last month.
Fa’asuamaleaui’s record this year had most in the NRL world believing a suspension was on the way.
Against the Storm in round three, Fa’asuamaleaui was fined $1500 for a shoulder charge on Eliesa Katoa.
And during the Titans’ clash with the Bulldogs in round 12, the Gold Coast prop was fined $1800 for having raised his arms and connected with Mahoney’s head while carrying the ball, leaving him concussed.
A fuming Tigers coach Tim Sheens confirmed after the match Koroisau’s jaw is “badly broken” in two places and would miss a minimum of six weeks.
Speaking at the media conference after the game, Fa’asuamaleaui said the contact was circumstantial.
“It is a contact sport mate and I am running as hard as I can and he is obviously getting up fast trying to stop me and I guess he came off second best,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“But I’m hoping he is all right and I’m hoping I’m all right too.”
When reporters pressed Fa’asuamaleaui about his ball-carrying technique, and how it has left two players injured, he said: “I have been running like that since I have come into the NRL since the start.
“Obviously there has been a couple of times where the players put their head in the wrong position and they have come off second best.
“But like I said I am just going out there to run as hard as I can and that’s my aim for the team to get quick play-the-balls.”
When asked about his chances of playing in game two, the Titans forward said: “I think it is similar to the other week.
“I think it is the media making me more worried than anything just building it up.
“I am just hoping I get selected first and then I’m hoping I am in the team.”
Addressing the Fa’asuamaleaui’s contact, former Queensland captain Darren Lockyer expressed fears for the Titans enforcer.
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“It’s a nervous wait,” Lockyer said on the Nine broadcast.
“If Api comes out of that tackle with no injury, I think he might get away with a fine. But unfortunately because of the injury to Api it’s a nervous wait for Tino.
“So I guess it’s over to the judiciary from here.”
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