It's taken until match eve but the State of Origin mind games have begun.
After a largely subdued lead-up, NSW coach Laurie Daley got on the front foot on Tuesday, calling on the referees to police the ruck properly during the series opener.
Daley used his match-eve media conference to send a pointed message to whistleblowers Matt Cecchin and Gerard Sutton, describing last year's series as one of the slowest and most boring he'd seen.
Queensland have an ageing side and are minus attacking weapons Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis, prompting fears from Daley the Maroons will resort to go-slow tactics and lie all over the ruck.
He claimed 2016 series referees Ben Cummins and Sutton allowed Queensland to get away with murder in the play-the-ball and were allowed to turn all three games into boring slogs with little expansive play.
"(Queensland) tried to slow it down last year," Daley said before the side's captain's run on Tuesday.
"We're expecting the same this year. They tried to dominate the ruck - we didn't have much room to move last year.
"The games were slow last year compared to usual Origin games. I hope it's different this year.
"You just want them to referee the same as they do in the NRL. That's all we've asked."
Asked if he had sought a meeting with NRL referees boss Tony Archer for clarification and to get his point across, Daley said he hadn't bothered because he did so last year to no avail.
It will be up to rookie captain Boyd Cordner to ensure his side get the rub of the green with the officials as he matches wits with veteran Queensland skipper Cameron Smith, known for his mastery of managing referees.
NSW have more often than not been on the wrong end of the penalty count at Suncorp Stadium - winning just seven of 52 on the penalty front there since Origin's inception in 1980.
"Boyd will bring his own style. He doesn't say a hell of a lot but, when he does, people listen and take it on board," Daley said.
"He'll be a bit nervous, I suppose, but he's smart enough and intelligent enough to know he needs to be aware of what's going on, on the field.
"I'm sure if he needs to have input into any of the decisions then he will."
Queensland coach Kevin Walters said former Canberra teammate Daley was just trying to get the attentions of the referees but admitted they would be looking to slow down the Blues.
"That's Laurie doing his best for NSW," Walters said.
"Game one is traditionally a tough game, very physical, not a lot between the sides and that will be the case again this year.
"If you look at the teams on paper, they've got some big bodies in there so we have to slow them down somehow."
Share
