Hodges expects NSW Origin fireworks It might be the year the NRL has tried to ban fighting but Queensland veteran Justin Hodges has rated the 2013 State of Origin series the most explosive of his career. And he expects NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce to add to the fireworks when he "comes after" Queensland fullback Billy Slater in next week's decider. The NRL tried to come down hard with a "one punch and you're off" rule in the wake of NSW skipper Paul Gallen's fight with Nate Myles in game one. Yet, game two was marred by NSW forward Trent Merrin's "cheap shot" on an unsuspecting Brent Tate, resulting in four players being sin-binned - including Hodges. And the message was simple from Hodges ahead of the Origin decider in Sydney - get used to it. "There have been a couple of fights here and there but - when there is so much on the line, so much pressure - sometimes emotions do boil over," he told AAP. But it's Origin footy and it is something that you will have to expect. Hodges has seen some sights since his 2002 Origin debut. There have been some bruisers - most notably the 2009 "dead rubber" finale which ended in an all-in brawl as Queensland sought retribution after unconscious prop Steve Price was manhandled by the Blues. However, Hodges believed the 2013 series eclipsed them all for "extra feeling." Every year is tough but this year has probably been the toughest. And that trend doesn't look like ending in the decider after Hodges predicted round three of the Pearce-Slater stoush. Queensland were unimpressed with NSW's post-match reaction to the game-two incident that prompted Merrin's punch. Pearce initially hinted at exacting revenge on Slater after copping a stray elbow to the face from the Maroons trump card in a tackle. "Mitch will probably come after him," Hodges said. But it's Origin so we will just have to deal with it. Billy will always have a target on his head because he is such a great player. Whenever you come up against a great player, you have to put them off their game. That's something NSW have been trying to do for years and this game will be no different. NSW might still be simmering over Slater but Tate claimed he held no grudges over the Merrin punch. "I have always been a believer that what happens on the field stays on the field," he said. I have always played like that and I will finish my career like that. It's an issue that is dead and buried. It is a non-event for me. The Maroons moved into their Sunshine Coast-based Camp Maroon on Wednesday after two nights in central Queensland.