LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In the recent Origin 2 match, the disparity in penalties drawn by Queensland compared to New South Wales has raised eyebrows.
Referee Ashley Klein noted that Queensland finished the first half with a penalty count of 8-0, which expanded to 10-2 by the end of the game, resulting in a 26-24 victory for the Maroons.
This is contrasted with Origin 1, where the Maroons committed six of the first eight penalties.
The author emphasizes not disputing the correctness of most penalties called against the Blues.
While some penalties might have been debatable, it does not undermine the overall concern regarding the officiating consistency between the matches.
The perception that one team consistently avoids penalties while the other is penalized heavily raises questions about the fairness and balance in officiating, particularly in high-stakes games like State of Origin.
The writer contends that the NRL needs to address these discrepancies to maintain the integrity of the competition.