QRL CEO Ben Ikin denied entry at State of Origin due to missing pass

It was a fantastic Origin night for Queensland, but the state’s rugby league boss got more than he bargained for when he tried to celebrate with the team.

Queensland Rugby League CEO Ben Ikin was denied entry to the post-match area at Wednesday night’s State of Origin, despite being one of the most recognisable figures in the sport.

The incident occurred after the Queensland Maroons’ decisive 38-10 victory over the New South Wales.

QRL boss Ben Ikin during a media conference. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ikin, clad in his Queensland tracksuit but minus the necessary pass, found himself unexpectedly barred from the sheds by a security guard.

The awkward moment was recounted on air during the “Ash, Luttsy and Susie O’Neill” breakfast show by Nova 106.9’s Mitch Lewis.

Lewis shared his first-hand experience of trying to access the restricted area by following Ikin, only to be stopped by the diligent guard.

“I’m showing my card to get into the media area, and Ben Ikin is there and I’m like, ‘I’m just going to ride his coat-tails’, even if I don’t make the press conference, if I can get into the Queensland sheds, behind the CEO of Queensland Rugby League” Lewis explained.

“I’m shaking hands with him, and we walk down and then the seccy’s (securities) pulled us up and he (Ikin) said, ‘Ah, sorry, I’m I haven’t got my pass’, and he (the security guard) said ‘upstairs you go’.”

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow celebrates one of his three tries in Wednesday night’s game. Photo: NRL Photos / Brett Costello

Despite protests from onlookers, including NSW rugby league great Brett Kimmorley, the security guard remained unyielding.

“Mate, he’s the boss of Queensland Rugby League,” Kimmorley said, but the guard was unfazed. “And I’m security, he doesn’t have a pass, he goes upstairs.”

Ikin didn’t challenge the guard. “That’s fair enough, he’s doing his job,” Ikin said, according to Lewis.

Amid this confusion, Lewis had to make a choice.

Mitch Lewis and Daly Cherry-Evans at the 2023 State of Origin. Photo: Instagram.

“I said ‘thanks man, I’ll go, I guess I’ll see you after Ben’,” Lewis told Ikin as he was granted access to the media conference.

Ikin was eventually allowed to join the team after getting a pass.

“I didn’t see him for another 40 minutes, but he got in eventually, he had to eventually find a pass, someone that would come out and let him,” Lewis said.