NSW coach Brad Fittler has fumed it is "absolutely ridiculous" Blues centre Matt Burton was fined more than Queensland's Tino Fa'asuamaleaui after their brawl in State of Origin III.
Early in the first half of Queensland's win, Maroons centre Dane Gagai knocked Burton to the ground in backplay and sparked a punch-up between the two.
Fa'asuamaleaui intervened and had Burton in a headlock when more players joined the fracas.
Referee Ashley Klein sin-binned Burton and Gagai, but Fa'asuamaleaui was permitted to stay on the field.
The day after the game, Burton and Gagai were each fined 23 per cent of their match fee, following changes to the NRL's judiciary code this season aimed at minimising suspensions out of representative games.
Fittler was critical of the match review committee's decision to fine Fa'asuamaleaui only 7 per cent of his match payment.
"The problem I had with it was (NRL Head of Football) Graham Annesley had come out during the week and spoke how the third man in should be sin-binned," Fittler told Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
"Tino was the third man in and he could have done other things other than put (Burton) in a pretty aggressive head lock, and the way that got treated.
"Matt Burton got fined more than Tino. I find that absolutely ridiculous."
Former Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer argued that by pulling Burton away from Gagai, Fa'asuamaleaui had prevented further punches from being thrown. But Fittler disagreed.
"Even if he does, he's still in a head lock and Dane Gagai still continue to melee with him and fight," Fittler said.
"At the end of it Matt Burton has come out of it pretty ordinary, and to be fined more ... I thought that was just hopeless."
The NRL has been contacted for comment.
