Queensland Rugby League boss Peter Betros has taken aim at NSW mentor Laurie Daley, saying it is `ludicrous' a coach believes they can influence who officiates a State of Origin game.
Daley made it clear he was not happy with the performance of Ben Cummins and Gerard Sutton in the Blues' 6-4 Origin I loss, saying he would be "asking for those two referees not to be officiating in game two".
The referees for Origin II will be confirmed on Tuesday.
Betros had a run-in with Daley in last year's series and couldn't resist when officials for game two were discussed after Queensland's Origin II team was confirmed on Tuesday.
"We don't comment on the referees," he said.
"I think it is ludicrous for states to think they can select referees for certain games.
"We don't get a say in referees and we shouldn't get a say in referees.
"The day when states start picking the referees is the day the lunatics start taking over the asylum."
Betros said he would have no problem with Cummins and Sutton again being handed the whistle for June 22's game II in Brisbane.
"Those two referees are by far the best two referees running around in the NRL," he said.
"Players respect them and they respect the players."
Daley was fuming over several contentious game one calls, most notably a Josh Morris try disallowed by the bunker.
But Queensland coach Kevin Walters believed both sides were on the wrong side of 50-50 calls on the night.
"I was very happy with the referee's performance," he said.
"I saw some errors from Queensland players, NSW players and the referees - that's par for any game.
"Everyone makes mistakes.
"It's not about the referees.
"It's about two teams giving their best and at the end of the day someone is going to win and someone is going to lose."
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