Haumole Olakau’atu and Cameron Murray hit with bans by NRL after ugly State of Origin melee

Haumole Olakau’atu and Cameron Murray have both been slapped with two-match bans for their role in a fiery brawl in the State of Origin decider. Olakau'atu - who played the opening two games of the series but was part of the extended squad for Game 3 - was hit with a grade three contrary conduct and faces two weeks on the sideline, or three if he fights it at the judiciary and loses, for his involvement in the melee.

Murray was also hit with a two-match ban for his role in the brawl. The South Sydney captain was sin-binned for charging into the middle of the ruckus while waiting to come on as a substitute and many thought he was lucky to not be sent off.

The incident stemmed from a feisty push and shove between Daly Cherry-Evans and Jarome Luai at the 30-minute mark on Wednesday night. The incident saw players charge in from all over the pitch as those on and off the field got involved.

Olakau'atu was NSW’s 19th man and dressed in chinos and a navy suit jacket but he still found himself in the middle of things. The Manly back rower was seen pushing through the crowd before pulling Queensland back Valentine Holmes out by the throat.

His involvement saw him banished from the field and he was retrospectively slapped with a two-match ban. Olakau'atu was also brutally forced to watch on from the tunnel as his Blues teammates lifted the State of Origin shield.

But Olakau’atu told the Sydney Morning Herald after the match that he doesn't regret what he did and even declared he would do it again. “There was more maroon than blue, so I was just being a friend,” Olakau’atu said.

“I wanted to help a brother out … Obviously now [I’m worried]. But in the moment, I was helping out a brother. I’ve only met these guys through footy, but to get to know them on a deeper level in camp, it’s a special thing. I wish nothing but the best for all of them.

“There was a whole heap of maroon. I’m just happy the boys got up – I’m happy the boys got the shield to take back home. But I’d do the same thing in clubland, 100 per cent ... If it’s one of my brothers at Manly, I’d definitely be in the picture to help them out.”

As well as Olakau’atu and Murray, Kurt Capewell, Jeremiah Nanai, Brian To'o, Reuben Cotter, Hamiso Tabuai Fidow, Matt Burton, Felise Kaufusi and Payne Haas were also charged for their role in the brawl but none of them are facing bans. While surprisingly neither Cherry-Evans nor Luai - who started the push-and-shove - were sanctioned.

While Queensland’s Capewell was fined twice for separate incidents early in the first half – the first for a dangerous throw on Stephen Crichton and the second for dangerous contact on Mitchell Moses. Both charges will see him cough up seven per cent of his match fee.

Cameron Murray lucky not to be sent off?

Murray was hit with a two-match ban for his role in the brawl after he was sin-binned for charging into the melee while waiting to come on as a substitute. And many, including the Maroons captain, thought he was fortunate to not be sent off for his actions.

Cherry-Evans said after the game that Murray simply had to be dismissed, labelling his actions as "unacceptable". But NSW coach Michael Maguire came to the defence of both he and Olakau'atu suggesting it was the right thing to do to stick up for their teammates.

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"When you look at that moment, Cam Murray is one of the nicest blokes in the game," he said. "He plays the game to perfection. He obviously went down there because he cares for one of his teammates.

"I've known Cameron for a long time, never thought he'd jump into something like that, but it just goes to show what the group mean to each other."

Murray told The Daily Telegraph after the match that he felt he had to stick up for his teammates who were badly outnumbered. “It has kind of been pretty standard that the first person in gets sin-binned regardless of whether he throws a punch or not,” Murray said.

“I guess I was just trying to stick up for my teammates. They were a bit outnumbered there. I felt like I couldn’t stand there and watch. I wasn’t trying to do anything. I was trying to look after my brothers out there. That was it. It is not something that is overly typical of me but I have done it before – I have run in to try to look after the boys."

with AAP