Salt in the wound: Josh McGuire had a chirp at Andrew Fifita immediately after the final whistle. Credit:Getty Images "There'll be nothing better than us going up there and taking out the series on Queensland soil," Fifita said. "I'm a bit bitter about it. They can carry on all they want at the end of the game there. It's one of those things – we will bank it and go into game three ready." It wasn't the only time in the game McGuire went at Fifita. The Broncos lock executed an illegal cannonball tackle by diving into the legs of the Blues prop in the first half. McGuire was clearly tasked with the responsibility of trying to eliminate the Fifita threat, but the Sharks enforcer laughed at his rival's attempt to unsettle him.

Raging bull: Andrew Fifita in game two. Credit:Getty Images "I laughed at it. I knew they were going to come at it," Fifita said of the cannonball tackle. "In any team, if you're one of the main players, they are going to try and take you out of the game. In saying that, he can dive at the leg all he wants. They're only little but they aren't breaking anything. "I was laughing at things. They gave away a penalty on me, but I laughed it off. I think they wanted a reaction out of me. I don't think any of our boys reacted. We just got on with the job." Fifita has history with the Queenslanders, and for more than just his talents on a football field.

His larger-than-life personality is often viewed as arrogance, while some of his decisions on the field have been questioned by the Maroons. His decision to confront Gavin Cooper in game three last year after the Cowboys back-rower scored a try hasn't been forgotten. Nor has the embarrassment he inflicted on the Queensland pack, when he ran over the top of them in game one. The Maroons did well to contain Fifita after he proved almost impossible to stop in the opening game of the series. Fifita admitted he felt the extra attention the Maroons gave him and credited Queensland for doing their homework on him. But he said the wrestling in the ruck and the way the referees officiated the game only played into Queensland's hands and prevented him from having the desired impact.