Billy Slater takes swipe at referee, calls out Blues’ Reece Walsh tactics

Queensland coach Billy Slater and captain Daly Cherry-Evans have both slammed the officiating in the Origin decider on Wednesday night.

Queensland coach Billy Slater and captain Daly Cherry-Evans have both slammed the officiating in the Origin decider on Wednesday night.

Queensland coach Billy Slater and captain Daly Cherry-Evans have both slammed the officiating in the Origin decider on Wednesday night.

Slater could barely contain his frustration at referee Ashley Klein who made several contentious calls but none bigger than allowing Cameron Murray to stay in the game.

Murray was binned for running from the bench to get involved in a melee in an act Cherry-Evans said warranted a send off.

The Maroons were on the wrong end of a 9-6 penalty count and Slater was asked his thoughts on Klein’s performance.

“Things just weren’t going our way, it didn’t feel like we got the bounce of the ball or the rub of the green and that tells in the end with fatigue,” Slater said.

“I’m sure the referee will review his own game. I’m sure his boss will review his game.

“That’s their job to review their own game and their own performance.”

There was plenty of feeling in the decider and Cherry-Evans was at the centre of the melee that saw Murray and Maroons backrower Jeremiah Nanai binned.

The fight started after Jarome Luai charged at Cherry-Evans after play was whistled dead when Blues star Bradman Best knocked on.

Luai’s shove caused Cherry-Evans to retaliate and push the Blues five-eighth in the face, with Nanai then joining before players came from everywhere as the scuffle spilt over the sidelines.

“It’s been a bit of a theme of the series to be fair, all that sort of stuff, niggle, and it just boiled over,” Cherry-Evans said.

“I was just really proud that nobody hesitated to get in there. I got a lot of love and support from my teammates tonight so I’m really proud of that side of the game.”

Cherry-Evans yelled “that should’ve been a send off” at referee Ashley Klein and was asked after the match if that was still position.

“Yeah. I feel I was pretty clear. That’s unacceptable at any level of footy,” he said.

“That’s just my opinion, that’s footy and they’ve got to make a decision.

“I thought we were going to get the penalty, but again, we just didn’t get the rub of the green tonight. We live with that and that’s footy.”

Slater also took exception to his star fullback Reece Walsh once again being targeted off the ball, but said he never considered taking him off for Kalyn Ponga.

“He certainly was getting hit a fair bit without the footy, I think given the situation we were in on the scoreboard, having them both out there was our best option,” Slater said.

“They’ll review that (hit off the ball), I’m sure they’ll look at their own game. I just thought he was hit a little bit off the footy, that’s what I think.

“It’s a game of rugby league at State of Origin level, I’ve been out there I know what it’s like, I understand what he’s going through. It’s just the way it is, isn’t it.”

Originally published as Billy Slater takes swipe at referee, calls out Blues’ Reece Walsh tactics