New South Wales coach Laurie Daley has said he will ask the NRL to not appoint referees Gerard Sutton and Ben Cummins for Game 2 of the State of Origin series after their performance in the series opener.
When fronting the media, Daley didn’t hold back on what he felt about their performance, insisting there should be some fresh faces in charge of the game in Brisbane.
“Put it this way, I will be asking for those two referees not to be officiating in game two … there is your story,” Daley said.
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“There were plenty of big calls that happened.”
It certainly is a story, as Sutton and Cummins have been in charge of the last four State of Origin matches, and although there were a few calls that went against the Blues at ANZ Stadium, it wasn’t as if the referees had a shocker.
The call not to award Josh Morris a try in the second half proved decisive for the Blues, with the Bunker ruling that the ball had been short. But the on-field referees had awarded it a try live, with the vision showing that the ball didn’t reach the line.
Blues players were upset about the Morris call, and Daley was puzzled.
“I’ve got no idea,” Daley said when asked his thoughts on it.
Not long after the Morris try was turned down a NSW scrumfeed 10m out from the Queensland line was handed to the Maroons when their centre Justin O’Neill was ruled not to have knocked on.
“I don’t know,” Daley said when quizzed about that.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters agreed his side got the rub of the green.
“A couple of good calls went our way,” he told Channel Nine after the game.
What did you make of the game Roarers? Does Daley have a point? Should the refs be sacked?
Ununux
Guest
I couldn't agree more CJC & AlanKC. The whole reason the blues lost was because of the Ch 9 commentary! In fact all these years the blues have lost entirely because of them! News flash Loz.. You need to Get rid of them ASAP.. They a bad omen! And they can take the ball boys, the refs, Gallen, walker, Morris, Farrah, Reynolds & and Maybe you with em! A complete wipe out .. Then & only then maybe the blues will have a chance!
AlanKC
Guest
" Infact get rid of the Ch9 Commentary crew as well" - Yes please
CJC
Guest
Why not the ball boys as well Laurie? Infact get rid of the Ch9 Commentary crew as well
Pot Stirrer
Guest
We lost by 2 ponits. It wasnt like we didnt have our chances and i think a few more games under the belt for this team and they will improve significantly. We had another new spine against a spine that have all played in the last however many years in origin. I dont get the sore losers complaining. Not only have the Toads been together as a unit for 10 years they have the current best players in the spine positions. We just need to be patient and build our combinations.
rj
Guest
QLD were inside the 10 all night, nsw forwards struggled to break the line. Ref was rubbish. all game
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Looked on the chest to me but was always going to be lucky not to get penalised when you're jumping into a tackle with a swinging arm in this day and age.
nopuritan
Guest
"A bad workman, (coach) blames his (the) tools. (refs)
AJL.
Roar Pro
Bennett level deflection. Daley and Fulton should be the first ones sacked.
Aaron
Guest
I thought all in all there were some pretty poor calls that went both ways. NSW can probably feel hard done by with the O'Neill knock on, which on replay appeared to come off Cordner's shoulder first anyway but was a close call. But then again, that was a square-up for the dodgy call against Gagai earlier in the match. Then there were the strips in the play the ball that went unnoticed, including the Klemmer strip on Thaiday (well done to Klemmer though, he masked it well), and the 3 man strip on Parker at the end of the game. Also, what was wrong with JT's strip when he was standing at marker? He looked pretty square to me.
Benedict Arnold
Guest
Laurie wasn't complaining when the refs awarded their only try off the back off a forward pass, or the ball that came off jennings' head and deemed to have been knocked on by QLD. They never overturned that one did they Loz?
Charles NSW
Guest
Silly to blame the referees Laurie Daley! It is time you had a good look at your own performance
Brian C
Guest
Damn, I was at work at the time, I missed the high tackle and the rum.
Brian C
Guest
Absolutely, its very unsportsmanlike, and normally frowned upon to call the refs biased. The fans can and do but coaches should maintain that professional approach and look at their team to what they can do to improve for next game. The answer shouldn't be relied upon favourable referees. Refs do get things wrong but I am surprised that Laurie Daley is wanting them gone, because even I as a fan sometimes don't agree with them but do believe they call things as they see them. For Laurie Daley to imply otherwise he should be cautioned. However I am of the opinion that they will listen to him and try to appease him. Maybe by having two other refs for next game and back to those in the third. It was a great game by two great teams, Queensland only just won so focus more on the playing and not in the ones refereeing Mr Daley
Kell
Guest
The only call I didn't agree with was the high tackle against Gallen, there was nothing in it. That being said, I have had a hell of a lot of rum
justinr
Guest
I think everyone went to sleep during this. It wasn't just the lack of scoring, both teams just seemed to take the ball up the centre for 5 tackles then kick.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I don't think the refs were bad at all. A little lax in the ruck maybe with a harsh penalty here or there. I only saw two instances where I thought they were flat out wrong. Gagais knock on when it came off Jennings head and the next set when it looked clear as day to me that it was an O'neill knock on and it went was overturned by the bunker. Tbf I was fairly drunk by then so maybe I'm just seeing things.
Don
Roar Rookie
Because they lack game control in the halves and at hooker an option is to add a ball playing running back rower and a big ball runner / line breaker in the centres or fullback. I'd be picking Wade Graham and BJ Leilua. Put Jennings on the wing instead of Ferguson. They need someone in the backline who can break a tackle rather than rely on a half putting them outside or through a gap.
Mad Max
Guest
As a passionate queenslander kind of had a thing for Laurie Daley. However this is very insulting and ignorant ... he has much more of a one eye than I thought. Questionable calls again at qld ... - their try was a forward pass to cordner - gagai taken out in the air by Jennings which resulted in repeat set - etc. I cant recall a major call going against the blues.
The cauldron
Guest
New refs won't change anything at Suncorp. Our lads will be better for the run on a good surface.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Thought the refereeing was quite fair really, a few calls didn't happen or didn't go the way they should've but without any kind of clear pattern in favour of one side suggesting that in a high speed game the refs made a few errors, as one expects. Regardless, now Daley has said this publicly I think it's absolutely necessary that the on field refs from tonight ref game 2 -- can't let the coaches pick the refs.