Maroons enforcer Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has opened up on the “disgusting” abuse he and his family received online after his infamous headlock on Blues centre Matt Burton.
In Game III of this year’s Origin series, Dane Gagai set his sights on Burton, and Fa’asuamaleaui pulled the NSW gun away as his teammate swung punches.
Fa’asuamaleaui was fined 20 per cent of his match fee for two separate incidents during the game, both involving Burton, and the pair are now teammates.
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The Bulldogs gun has been picked at five-eighth, while the Titans skipper will line-up in the front row for the Prime Minister’s XIII on Sunday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Fa’asuamaleaui explained players are used to copping criticism, but when online trolls come after members of your family you need to “draw a line in the sand”.
“I was a bit shocked (by the Origin reaction). I copped a lot of hate online after that night – my family copped a lot – and it was quite full-on, to be honest. I won’t go into too much depth, but it was pretty disgusting,” Fa’asuamaleaui said to the SMH.
“You don’t mind it when they come after me, but it’s more when they come after your family. That’s when you draw a line in the sand.
“Whatever happens on the field, stays on the field. There was never any malice, I was just trying to back up a teammate and break up the fight, so we could get on and play the game.
“Origin footy, and football in general, is about having your teammate’s back.
“I’m not sure if you were at the Canterbury game a few weeks later, but I copped it even more. The whole crowd jumped on board. I’ve never experienced that before.”
Meanwhile, Burton himself was disappointed his new teammate copped abuse for the incident and revealed they had already cleared the air.
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“We spoke about it after it happened – we’re teammates now and I’m looking forward to getting out there with him,” Burton said.
“But it’s not on when families are being attacked. He’s been great all year and it’s great to have him in this side.”
Both players are in line to be picked in Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos squad for this year’s World Cup and will be looking to put their best foot forward against Papua New Guinea.
Meanwhile, Kangaroos hopefuls Josh Addo-Carr, Selwyn Cobbo, Daly Cherry-Evans, Ben Hunt, Angus Crichton and Thomas Flegler will all feature.
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