New South Wales bring former referee Luke Phillips into camp to combat penalty crackdown
NEW South Wales have opted to get the jump on the penalty crackdown by bringing former NRL referee Luke Phillips into camp.
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NSW boast a secret weapon in their ranks, employing former NRL whistleblower Luke Phillips to help combat the game’s biggest refereeing crackdown in recent memory.
In a potential masterstroke from Blues coach Brad Fittler, Phillips is part of the NSW coaching staff and will work specifically on the discipline and attention to detail of the inexperienced Blues ahead of game one next Wednesday at the MCG.
It comes as the NRL announced Gerard Sutton and Ashley Klein would officiate the match.
And Phillips — who refereed 27 games between 2010 and 2014 and spent time as a video referee — has wasted no time getting down to business with the Blues.
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The 42-year-old, who also played 105 NRL matches for the Sydney Roosters, took the whistle in hand during the Blues first training session in Coogee on Tuesday.
Phillips controlled the majority of the session with the whistle, including policing the 10-metres, as Fittler watched his players from behind the defensive line.
The former Canberra, North Queensland, Manly and Roosters fullback is currently employed at Penrith as the club’s referees coach.
He also worked with Fittler during last year’s World Cup campaign with Lebanon.
NSW adviser Greg Alexander said Phillips was an undeniable asset for the Blues and one of the first people Fittler wanted on his coaching staff.
“He works at Penrith and is a good operator,’’ Alexander said.
“He’s been with Penrith for a few years and he worked with Freddy with Lebanon through the World Cup campaign, so there’s a relationship and great respect from Freddy there.
“He’s fantastic at ruck identification and the play-the-ball — which has been a focus of late.
“Being a former referee, he knows exactly what the referees are looking for — so he’s good in that area.
“He’s one of the first guys Freddy wanted in, from the start.
“He not only a former referee, but a former player, so he’s got a great all-round understanding of the game.
“He’s an asset and that’s why he’s also working at Penrith. It’s another factor in regards to their performances this year.’’
Phillips’ role within the Blues has never been more timely.
Just last week, The Daily Telegraph revealed NRL referees boss Gerard Sutton had met with rival state coaches Fittler and Queensland coach Kevin Walters to explain that the upcoming Origin series would be officiated in the same penalising fashion as the first 12 rounds of the premiership.
“All we can get our players to do is play by the rules,’’ Alexander said.