His face may be hard to miss at the State of Origin game two clash at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night but Queensland coach Mal Meninga has slammed an attempt to target his prized forward Nate Myles.
In a cheeky promotion, a betting agency has provided a picture of Myles’ prominent forehead and asked NSW punters to print it out and wear it as a mask at Origin II in a reaction to the fallout over game one.
NSW captain Paul Gallen infamously punched Myles in Queensland’s 14-6 Origin I loss in what he claimed was in retaliation to the Maroons forward’s alleged dirty tactics, including leading with the head in tackles.
It sparked a war of words between both camps in the lead-up to a game Queensland must win to keep alive hopes of an eighth straight series win.
Meninga was dirty enough that Myles had come under the post-game one spotlight but was absolutely filthy over the betting agency’s “dread the head” campaign.
“Those things they are going to hold up, the big foreheads, I think that is disrespectful to be honest,” he said on Tuesday.
“He is a great bloke, a great player and a great Queenslander. He will play to the best of his ability tomorrow night.”
The NSW camp claimed Myles not only used knee twists in tackles and repeatedly used his head in tackles but branded Gallen a cheat before the NSW skipper retaliated with a flurry of punches.
But asked if Myles would be scrutinised by referees in game two, Meninga said: “Not really.
“I think he’s been unfairly picked on since game one.
“I think it has been disrespectful what has happened to him.”
Meninga said he had been proud of how Myles had carried himself in the game one fallout, refusing to bite back at NSW’s claims which had launched a tit for tat campaign between the camps over who bent the rules the most in Origin I.
“Absolutely, he has not said anything. He has not complained about things,” Meninga said.
“The only thing we have complained about is getting a fair go from the referees.
“We would like to the see the referees not play a part, that would be good.
After again refuting claims that they would target Gallen in game two, Meninga was asked how Myles would respond to his treatment on Wednesday night.
“We will see tomorrow night,” Meninga said ominously.