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Phil Gould is on the warpath again over the bunker’s interference by claiming it’s ruining the game and has been a disaster.
The Canterbury general manager went on another rant on Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night to accuse the NRL of inconsistent rulings and protecting the referees from scrutiny when they make bad calls.
“I’ve been telling you for years. No one is in control, they’ve given the referees too much control of the rulebook, of the game,” he said.
“The one thing that was advised to me 30 years ago by very smart people in this game – do not give referees control of the rule book, do not give referees control of video refereeing. He said at the time it would be a disaster in the game, it’s been a disaster, it’s been an absolute disaster.”
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He was fuming over Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney being penalised and placed on report for a hip drop on Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika on Sunday.
Reed Mahoney. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
“Two minutes later he gets hit on the jaw by an elbow (from Tino Fa’asuamaleaui). No penalty but he gets charged the next day. How can you justify that?
“I can talk about Bulldogs anytime I like, particularly when they get it wrong and they get it wrong a lot,” he added in reference to recent reports that the NRL wanted to haul him into line over his media commentary while holding a senior position at a club.
It wasn’t just the on-field officials who attracte Gould’s ire.
“You know why there’s so much wrong, it’s the nit-picking in the bunker,” he said.
“They must have a giant magnifying glass in there sometimes to pick up stuff that no one could possibly see. It goes on every week.
“The nit-picking by the bunker to disallow a try, they want to find something that no one else can find, they want to find it and just spoil the moment.
“It’s ridiculous and it’s ruining the game, and the problem with that is, is our officials keep supporting it and saying you can’t criticise it and they should be allowed to continue what they’re doing, that’s ruining the game as well.”
He claimed the referees are extremely divided “on how they’re told to referee and the systems and processes they’ve got in place and also how half the referees stick to that when they know it’s not right”.
Gould also accused Gerard Sutton for over-reacting by sin-binning Hudson Young and Sean Keppie for a minor scuffle in Canberra on Sunday while highlighting Roosters lock Victor Radley not being sent for hitting Dragons prop Blake Lawrie with his head on Friday at Kogarah.
He claimed Sutton sends players to the sin bin more than any other referee
Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans has urged his axed teammates not to linger on their omissions that stunned their NSW rivals, insisting they could still play a role later in the series.
Second-year Maroons coach Billy Slater will roll out a new-look side in Adelaide’s State of Origin opener on May 31 after leaving out Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Kurt Capewell.
Ponga (concussion) and Capewell (shoulder) were under injury clouds and have been replaced by the in-form Reece Walsh and David Fifita respectively.
But in arguably the biggest call, Newcastle centre Gagai was fit and has been overlooked after playing in every Origin game since the third match of 2015.
In a move at odds with the Maroons’ general custom to “pick and stick”, Slater has instead opted for the form and speed of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to match up against Blues powerhouse Latrell Mitchell.
Slater said breaking the news to Gagai was the toughest phone call he made.
“Stunning,” Blues assistant coach Greg Alexander told SEN.
“When you think Queensland over the last seven or eight years, I think Cameron Munster, Josh Papalii and Dane Gagai. Dane Gagai is one of those players that just produces for Queensland and has every time.”
Gagai and Ponga’s Newcastle teammate Tyson Frizell admitted he was surprised by their omissions.
“I guess they do miss that experience. Gags, every game since his debut he’s been one of their best,” the Blues forward said.
Cherry-Evans sympathised after he too was dropped in 2015.
“They are tough calls but they are the decision that as a player, once they are made, you can’t linger on them,” he told AAP.
Dane Gagai. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“They are friends of mine now, so I definitely feel for those boys, mainly because I have been there before.”
Cherry-Evans said the trio must respond appropriately at club level “with the passion and desire that shows they still want to be here”.
“There is still a massive chance those boys can play a massive role for Queensland throughout this series,” he said.
Pat Carrigan, last year’s man of the series, said the selection calls had been felt when the Maroons squad assembled on Monday. “It’s different; some guys missed out I’ve got some good relationships with, so it’s tough to see,” he said.
“But Bill’s given some guys an opportunity and I know they’ll stand up and I’ve got plenty of mates in this team. It is (cut-throat) but every time you put the jersey on you’re expected to perform, so nothing changes for me.”
Ashley Klein will officiate a fourth straight State of Origin match, despite concerns being raised over his handling of one of the major flashpoints in last year’s decider.
NSW coach Brad Fittler was stinging in his criticism of Klein after he failed to sin-bin Queensland prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui for his role in a melee in Origin III last year.
Fa’asuamaleaui held Matt Burton in a headlock while fellow Maroons player Dane Gagai punched the Blues centre, with Queensland going on to secure a 2-1 series victory.
Gagai and Burton were both sin-binned, but Fittler branded Klein’s failure to sanction Fa’asuamaleaui as “ridiculous”.
But the experienced referee has been handed the whistle for the series opener in Adelaide on May 31.
Grant Atkins will head up the bunker, while Gerard Sutton is the standby referee.
As well as officiating the past three Origin games, Klein also took charge of the NRL grand final and the Rugby League World Cup final.
Victor Radley is sent to the sin bin by Ashley Klein. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“Ashley has officiated well so far in the 2023 premiership and has significant experience in big matches,” said NRL referees boss Jared Maxwell.
“Ashley refereed all three State of Origin matches in 2022, and this match will be his 12th Origin.
“This will be the same on-field and bunker team which officiated in the grand final last year, so they have all proven themselves at this level.”
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