'Given a directive': Stunning claims of NRL intervention that helps QLD in Origin 2

Yahoo

10 hours ago

Matty Johns says he's got "no doubt" that referee Ashley Klein has been "given a directive" to let State of Origin 2 flow more - and it could be a huge advantage for Queensland. Game 1 copped a lot of flak for being a boring and dull affair, with journalist David Riccio declaring it the closest Origin game to NRL standard in a number of years.
Klein was heavily involved in the early stages of Origin 1 in Brisbane, blowing a number of penalties that affected the flow of the game. Many agreed that the series opener lacked the usual atmosphere and hype of an Origin game, and there's fears the spectacle could be ruined again in Perth.
And that's why Johns believes the NRL has ordered Klein to put the whistle away and let the second game of the series flow more. With the Perth Bears set to enter the competition in 2027 and the NRL desperate to win over the West Australian public, they can't afford a repeat of what we saw in Game 1.
"This is a really important game for rugby league with the Perth Bears coming in, so we want this to be as good as rugby league can be," Johns said on the 'Backstage with Cooper & Matty Johns' podcast on Monday. "I reckon the referee has been given a bit of a directive. Less penalties and let the game flow more."
Johns, who played four State of Origin games for NSW, reckons it will play directly into Queensland's hands. The Maroons have been dominated in the middle for the last three Origin games, and the NSW forward pack was miles better in Game 1.
But if the referee lets them get away with more in the ruck, it will help limit the Blues' attacking weapons. "It suits Queensland because they will multiply the pressure on the referee," he said. "They'll lie in the ruck, they'll stand a half a metre offside, they'll rush our playmakers."
Johns' son Cooper said the Maroons players can "set the standard for the whole game" by flouting the rules from the get-go. And Matty added: "He's been told to blow less penalties. The bloke who's going to have the most pressure on him in this game is the referee. I've got no doubt he's been given a directive - and they won't admit to it - but it's a directive from the top."
Speaking last week, leading journalist Riccio said the NRL will be desperate to avoid a repeat of Game 1. In days gone by, the referees would tend to put the whistle away in Origin games and officiate very differently to NRL level.
But with more scrutiny than ever before - especially around foul play - that has changed. But Riccio and Johns both believe we could see a throwback to yesteryear with the way Origin 2 is officiated.
"The NRL need to be careful with State of Origin, because what we saw in Origin 1 was the closest thing we've seen to an NRL game," Riccio said on SEN radio. "The media build-up and promotion is critical to the hype and excitement before the game, but it's become so boring and so vanilla.
"We can't allow Game 2 to unfold the way the first one did. This game has to be an absolute spectacle to win over the West Australian public."
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Johns added: "If this is a dour and low-key game it will really be alarming. Queensland will come out blazing and they're going to have to let a little bit of stuff go (the referees). Unless it's something obvious, just let the players decide it."