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“I’ll be asking those two referees to not be officiating in Game 2,” declared New South Wales State of Origin coach Laurie Daley after the first game of the series.
It proved a stunning admission of what little power he has over the appointment of officials in the interstate showpiece.
The same two officials have been appointed, based on merit and not the less than impartial opinion of a losing coach.
Gerard Sutton and Ben Cummins will hold the whistles, and there was no other way it could be.
They are the best two candidates for the NRL and although touch judge Jeff Younis was overlooked, the officials remain the same for Game 2. ‘Waqar’ may have paid the price for judging the Morris attempt as a try when the Bunker could find no evidence of the ball reaching the line.
More Origin
» State of Origin Game 2: Why NSW will win
» State of Origin Game 2: Why Queensland will win
» State of Origin Game 2: Expert tips and predictions
» State of Origin key questions: NSW edition
» State of Origin key questions: Queensland edition
In Origin appointments, when there is very little between the top officials available, the smallest perceived error can be the difference to retaining the spot or someone else being selected. It’s the best people for the best game, as judged by the referees’ coaches and the NRL. It’s fair and reasonable.
Although, in times gone by there definitely was another way appointments for Origin games were decided.
From 1981 to the mid-2000s, officials were not appointmented by their bosses at all.
Names were submitted to the Queensland Rugby League and the New South Wales Rugby League, where both in effect had a power of veto over any of the names on the sheet. If one or the other state governing body did not agree with the officials as named, they would send it back to the NRL and let them know.
My memory of this is most stark when my NRL touch judge coach Pat Reynolds was appointed to an Origin game and did everything right… Except he ruled Queensland winger Justin Hodges had played at a ball before it went into touch, necessitating a Blues scrum feed and subsequent try.
It was one minor error when every other decision passed muster. Yet the scrutiny on one decision where points result is greater than anything else.
The narrowest of margins, where Hodges lifted his leg to ‘trap’ the ball soccer-style bounced the way no round ball does and scooted past. Pat ruled played at; Blues score.
When the names were submitted for the next game Pat’s name was on the sheet. When it was returned to the NRL by the QRL his name had a line through it.
(I mention this not only because it’s a memory I can draw on clearly, but because I take a certain selfish indulgence in it. As it turned out that was Pat’s only State of Origin appointment, whereas I ended up doing two games. So from 2011 onwards I could claim that I had been part of more Origin games than my coach!)
I digress. That system of inviting the state leagues to make a comment on the recommended officials has been gone for several years.
Now we have Tony Archer, in consultation with his staff, appointing the best officials to the games and the states have to get on with it. No longer does the proverbial tail wag the dog.
It took another step forward when the NRL backed the recommendation of Sutton and Cummins, despite what Daley said after the first game.
He cleverly avoided any accusation of bias, as he didn’t imply they favoured Queensland over New South Wales, rather that they didn’t do a good enough job.
Well there you go Laurie – you’ve got the same blokes to contend with, and you’ve had eight days to prepare your team since the announcement was made. Let’s see if you’ve used that time to look inwards to the Blues team and its tactics rather than outwards to areas you’ve demonstrated that you can’t control.
I’m looking forward to the Origin II and some expansive football on a dry Suncorp Stadium.
Remember, this is more a game for non-league people than those of us who live and breathe club footy week to week. It’s the centrepiece of the season, providing colour and light in the dead of winter.
I feel Queensland will be too coordinated, and too familiar in combinations. New South Wales had the opportunity to select game-breakers and failed to do so.
My guess is Queensland to win by ten points, 24 to 14.
Enjoy your footy!
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