Gerard Sutton and Ashley Klein will referee next week's State of Origin series opener after experienced official Matt Cecchin was overlooked on Tuesday.
Cecchin refereed last year's entire series and the 2017 grand final, but was not named as one of the first-choice or back-up match officials for the MCG clash next Wednesday.
Klein's return marks the first time he has refereed Origin since 2013, while Sutton has stood in the past four series and last year's grand final.
Notably, Sutton's NRL matches have had close to the least penalties in this year's officiating crackdown. Klein's numbers are close to average while Cecchin's have been among the most penalised games.
"We took into account form, consistency and experience when nominating the officiating group," referees boss Bernard Sutton, who made the selections alongside officials coach Michael Maguire and assistants Russell Smith and Steve Carrall, said.
"Both the referees have been in excellent form over the opening rounds of the season and will take that form into the opening Origin game."
NRL head of football Brian Canavan backed the call.
"Gerard has refereed in three NRL grand finals, last year's World Cup final, as well as every Origin match since Game Three of 2014," he said.
"Ashley has refereed three Super League grand finals, a Challenge Cup final as well as a World Cup final.
"They are the form referees and clearly have big-game experience. I congratulate all the officials on their appointments."
Meanwhile Steve Chiddy will operate as the senior review official alongside Ben Galea in the bunker, while Nick Beashel and Brett Suttor will be the touch judges.
