The National Rugby League (NRL) has firmly denied claims that referees will be given special instructions for the State of Origin series, calling such suggestions “completely false.” The series, which begins in Sydney on Wednesday, will be the first to be played under new rules introduced this season. These include an expanded bench and the introduction of set restarts for infringements outside the attacking team’s 20-metre line, a change from previous practices where such restarts were only awarded outside the 40-metre line.
Historically, the penalty count during Origin matches has been lower than in regular club games, leading to speculation that referees may be more lenient during these high-stakes contests. However, with a noticeable increase in six-agains across the regular season, there has been growing debate about whether referees will apply set restarts as frequently in Origin as they do in club matches. This could result in a more attack-focused and potentially higher-scoring game.
After naming his Blues squad for Origin I, New South Wales coach Laurie Daley admitted he was unsure what to expect from the officials on Wednesday night at Accor Stadium.
“I don’t know how it’s going to be refereed,” Daley said.
In response, NRL head of football Graham Annesley emphasized that the rules and their interpretation for Origin are the same as in club matches. He stated:
“Any suggestion that referees are given different instructions for Origin is completely false. They simply respond to what unfolds in front of them.”
Annesley highlighted that Origin features some of the best players in the competition, who often play with a high level of discipline. This, he argued, reduces the need for frequent referee intervention.
“That’s what makes them so good—they are not constantly making errors or conceding penalties. When you put those factors together, it requires less intervention from referees. Referees only need to intervene when teams aren’t complying with the rules or where there are a lot of errors being made, whether it be knock-ons, forward passes, or any other form of ill-discipline that requires more whistleblowing.”
Regarding set restarts, Annesley added that their frequency depends on how well teams comply with the rules. “Referees don’t go looking for them. If teams comply with the rules, the referee doesn’t need to intervene.”
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart expressed confusion over the current officiating standards after his team’s loss to the Dolphins on Friday. He said:
“The game has interpretations and rules, and we’re in a position at the moment where we’re picking and choosing when we apply them. It’s a very frustrating situation for those involved as players and coaches.”
Stuart’s comments follow reports from Storm stars Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster, who have admitted they are watching fewer matches due to the way the game is now being played.
“It’ll probably be a bit of a guessing game because the competition has shown one thing, Origin might show another,” Blues forward Cameron Murray said on Saturday.
“So I’m not sure if the Origin is going to be similar to the regular NRL season or the same old Origin that we all know it can be. I guess you can overthink it a little bit if you try to think about those types of things…”
Murray added that teams and players who adapt best and focus on performance will be the most successful.
NSW bench hooker Blayke Brailey, making his Origin debut, admitted he was uncertain about the style of play he would face.
“I’m not too sure,” he said. “You can’t really control those referee decisions and calls, and you’ve got to get on with the job. But I don’t know how it’ll be refereed. I’m sure the coaching staff maybe have a bit more of an insight and they’ll let us know.”
“We can only control what we can control and that’s putting our best foot forward and performing whatever comes our way.”
