Blues and Cowboys prop James Tamou admits he wouldn't be able to watch Game Two of the Holden State of Origin series if he was suspended for a shoulder charge tackle on Sharks forward - and NSW teammate - Andrew Fifita on Monday night.
The base penalty for a grade one shoulder charge is 200 points meaning any charge from the match review committee would result in at least a one-week ban, regardless of his record.
Tamou missed Game Two of the 2013 series after he was arrested for drink driving and said the pain of missing another game would be too much to take.
"I wouldn't be able to watch that game," a candid Tamou told media straight after the game.
"A few years ago I missed an Origin through discipline and it was really tough. I'd be very disappointed."
The 19th minute incident wasn't placed on report and the Cowboys enforcer is hopeful the match review committee take a similar view.
"That is reassuring and hopefully they see it that way," he said.
"Mine wasn't too much malice in it. It wasn't directed at the head, it wasn't a blind shot. He sort of squared me up flat footed and I had no reason but to drop the shoulder otherwise he would have just gone straight over the top of me.
"I didn't come flying in from the side aiming for his head or anything like that. It was just an instinct. I'm not known for shoulder charges so hopefully they'll look at it the way I see it. It's making me a bit nervous.
"It didn't actually hit me until after I realised shoulder charge incidents like that in the past have been a week or two."
It will be a nervous wait for Tamou's NSW teammate Wade Graham as well after the Sharks backrower was penalised for a high shot on Maroons star Johnathan Thurston late in the game.
The incident wasn't placed on report by the on field officials and Tamou said the Blues rookie should not be suspended for the tackle.
"I think he was just doing his job. I didn't think there was too much in it," he said.
"I'm a big fan of Wade Graham. He's unreal. Everything he does he does with a lot of energy, a lot of effort. I think Origin is made for him. I think he's ready."
