Paul Gallen has questioned the match review process, saying Sam Thaiday was "very lucky" not to receive a longer suspension for the "spear tackle" on the Blues captain.
And Gallen believes Wade Graham, who was ruled out of the second Origin fixture, would not have received a suspension that ruled him out of Origin if the tackle had been on any other player than Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston.
Thaiday accepted a two-match ban after receiving a grade-two dangerous throw charge for his tackle on Gallen in the Blues' 26-16 defeat in State of Origin game two.
It was a tackle, however, that has left Gallen shaking his head.
Speaking on 2KY radio's Big Sports Breakfast, Gallen said he could not believe Thaiday did not receive a more severe punishment given the NRL's commitment to player safety.
A grade three charge laid by the NRL's match review committee would have seen Thaiday receive either four or five weeks depending on his plea, while a grade four would have attracted up to seven weeks and a grade five up to nine.
"I'm not one to bag players or get involved in the judiciary process - and I certainly didn't, but the fact he got two weeks for that I think is very lucky.
"For me that's the definition of a spear tackle," Gallen said. "It's called a dangerous throw these days but I was in a deadset spear position, I was vertically upside-down. Thankfully I come out of it ok and I'm not hurt because you don't have to look back too far to see those things go wrong."
Gallen appeared to suggest if the tackle was performed on another player other than himself, Thaiday may have been suspended for a longer period.
"I think it depends on who it was done on, I really do," Gallen said, before referring to Graham being charged with a high tackle offence for his hit on Thurston.
"Wade Graham told me in his judiciary process when he was in there all the talk from the prosecutor was the fact it was Johnathan Thurston.
"Now if that wasn't Johnathan Thurston, I have a feeling Wade Graham wouldn't have been charged. I certainly think it comes down to who the player is at times, I really do."
Gallen revealed he had to receive treatment in the lead up to the Sharks fixture against the Warriors on Saturday night.
