'I didn't get eye-gouged': Reuben Cotter weighs in on Luai act as Tigers star escapes ban

Maroons forward Reuben Cotter denied he was eye-gouged by Jarome Luai in the victory over the Blues on Wednesday night as Tigers coach Benji Marshall admitted he was concerned the playmaker could miss time over the incident.

Luai was hit with a grade-two contrary conduct charge for unnecessary contact and fined $3900 or 13 percent of his match fee for making contact with Cotter's face.

Cotter had some swelling around his eye after the match but confirmed that was due to a clash with Liam Martin late in the game.

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"I didn't get eye gouged at all," Cotter told AAP.

"He just came in with his elbow or his shoulder, I'm not sure what he came in with.

"I just stood up for myself, tried to push him off me."

Speaking at Tigers training on Thursday, Marshall, Luai's club coach, conceded he was a little anxious over the ramifications of the Cotter incident, which could have rubbed his co-captain out of Friday's clash with Canberra.

"I was (worried) but I don't have to worry anymore. He got a fine so he'll be right to play," Marshall said.

"I don't think it was intentional what he did. Anyway, that's not up to me anymore. That's been dealt with."

The penalty against Luai came amid a string of brain explosions from Blues players in the first half, allowing the Maroons to build a big lead, which was ultimately too much for NSW to overcome.

Another came with five minutes remaining before the break, with Queensland leading 20-6, when Nathan Cleary looked like he'd scored a certain try, bamboozling the Maroons defence by stepping inside and bumping off Kalyn Ponga.

Replays, however, showed Stefano Utoikamanu, who had run a decoy and was heading back into the line, obstructed Pat Carrigan on the inside of Cleary. Utoikamanu had initially got through the defensive line and was well out of the way but began to retreat to get back behind the ball when the play was still live. It was a costly decision.

"It looked a little too easy," Cameron Smith said on Nine.

Utoikamanu's penalty wasn't the only blunder from the Blues.

Martin goes berserk

In the 17th minute, Liam Martin had two minutes of madness.

The second-rower forced a knock on from Tino Fa'asuamaleaui with a big hit and let him know about it.

But then in NSW's attacking set, Martin knocked the ball on when he was tackled hard by Valentine Holmes.

The Maroons hit back by scoring a second try through Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, making it 12-6 their way.

Luai loses it

In the 22nd minute, Luai was put on report for the alleged eye gouge, which the Nine commentators said after the game wasn't as bad as it looked on freeze frame.

"It looked bad," Andrew Johns said post-match.

Smith predicted he "might get a fine at worst".

Luai was charged with grade two contrary conduct as a result.

The following set followed with more ill-discipline as Angus Crichton was penalised for a high shot on his Roosters teammate Robert Toia.

Lomax lashes out

Then five minutes later, Zac Lomax was also in trouble.

The winger elbowed Trent Loiero in the face as he was tackled. Lomax was placed on report and Queensland were given a penalty.

Lomax was charged with grade one dangerous contact and fined seven percent of his match free.

Loiero had to go off for an HIA.

"That's a little bit of ill-discipline there from Zac Lomax ... maybe a little bit of frustration," Smith said.

Holmes kicked a penalty goal off the back of it to make it 14-6.