‘$30,000 for an alleged breach’: QRL in hot water for interchange error

The QRL is set to be a little poorer after it was hit with a fine for an interchange breach in the State of Origin opener on Wednesday night.

The QRL is facing a $30,000 fine for an interchange breach in the State of Origin opener. Picture; Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Queensland Rugby League has been hit was a proposed $30,000 fine after the Maroons had 14 players on the field in the men’s State of Origin series opener on Wednesday night.

The NRL issued the breach notice on Friday afternoon having reviewed the incident which saw Lindsay Collins enter the field of play before Tom Gilbert went off injured.

It meant the Maroons had 14 men on the field for roughly 30 seconds which resulted in referee Ashley Klein awarding NSW a penalty.

Tom Gilbert hadn’t left the field when Lindsay Collins came on to replace him. Picture; Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Gilbert did not return due to the shoulder injury, while Collins played a key role at the end when he leapt above Roosters teammate James Tedesco to set up Cameron Munster for the sealer.

The error didn’t affect the result of the game, and the QRL now has five business days to respond to the notice.

Collins came up with a huge play late in the game to set up Cameron Munster for a try. Picture; Supplied

“The breach notice proposes a fine in the amount of $30,000 for an alleged breach of the NRL operations manual,” an NRL statement read.

“Approximately 18 minutes into the match, the Maroons had 14 players on the field for approximately 30 seconds.

“The alleged breach occurred following an injury to Maroons player Tom Gilbert.

“Maroons player Lindsay Collins entered the field of play to replace player Gilbert, however player Gilbert failed to leave the field of play resulting in both players being on the field at the same time.”