Daly Cherry-Evans rubbishes NSW conspiracy theories that he had a tactical meeting with referee Ashley Klein

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has rubbished NSW conspiracies after a footage emerged of him alongside State of Origin referee Ashley Klein, hitting back at any speculation he was using tactics on the match official.

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has blasted NSW conspiracy theories that he met with referee Ashley Klein in a cunning tactic to influence the result of Origin I on Wednesday night.

In an explosive build-up to the series opener at Suncorp Stadium, Cherry-Evans broke his silence on footage of him being pictured sitting with Klein during a recent Manly training session.

The Queensland captain also hit back at “ridiculous” speculation that Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo was left out of the Origin I team because Maroons players don’t like him.

A Sydney newspaper report on Sunday published a photo of Cherry-Evans sitting in the Brookvale stands with Klein, deep in conversation after a Sea Eagles training run.

That fuelled a belief within the NSW camp that Cherry-Evans was trying to exert influence on the NRL’s No.1 referee Klein, who will control the 2025 Origin opener.

Cherry-Evans’ former Maroons skipper Cameron Smith was the master of building a rapport with referees to get his way, but the Queensland No.7 set the record straight on his purported charm offensive with Klein.

Daly Cherry-Evans has slammed theories of a tactical meeting with Ashley Klein. Picture Lachie Millard

“Read into it what you will, but there’s nothing there for me,” Cherry-Evans said.

“That’s a weekly occurrence for us. If you come down to Manly training on any given week you will snap me with the referees at training.

“I’d like to think I have a good relationship with all referees.

“I’m respectful, empathetic for the way they have to sometimes play to the rules.

“I have a lot of respect and love for the referees.

“I haven’t had too many situations where I’ve crossed the line there.”

Klein laughed off the meeting, claiming he and Cherry-Evans mainly spoke about their children.

The Queensland skipper says at no stage did he discuss tactics or refereeing interpretations with Klein weeks out from the Origin I clash.

Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans speaking to Ashley Klein. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“I’m not going to be able to remember the conversation exactly because I don’t remember it being anything more than a conversation,” Cherry-Evans said.

“We have referees come out to our training sessions weekly at Manly. They are humans. They are people. They have families and more often than not we’re just talking about our kids and how they are misbehaving.

“We are all human and like to talk about our problems, it’s as simple as that really.”

In his traditional pre-Origin skipper’s press conference, Cherry-Evans also addressed another spicy topic _ that Cobbo is on the nose with Maroons players.

Despite being an incumbent Maroon, Cobbo was overlooked by coach Billy Slater for the 2025 opener. When the Maroons team was chosen last Sunday week, Cobbo had suffered a wrist injury that same day against the Dragons, although he was later cleared of a more serious fracture.

Selwyn Cobbo is an omission from the Maroons squad. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Asked if the Maroons have nothing against Cobbo, Cherry-Evans fired back: “Have you guys made it a thing … that we don’t like Selwyn?”

The reporter replied: “People in Sydney are surprised he’s not in”, prompting Cherry-Evans to label the perception as “ridiculous”.

“They are doing a great job of creating content, aren’t they, good on them,” the Maroons skipper said of Cobbo’s omission.

“I have really enjoyed playing footy with Selwyn, he is a fantastic footy player and an even better person.

“It’s so ridiculous sometimes that we have to justify our relationship with people, especially someone as good natured as Selwyn Cobbo.

“How and who picks the team, it’s got nothing to do with the players, it’s a selector and coach thing and we always back them to make the right decision.”

The Maroons face an uphill battle if they lose Game One at home and Cherry-Evans says Queensland were stung by last year’s 2-1 series defeat.

Daly Cherry-Evans leads the Maroons out to an uphill battle in game one. Picture: Lachie Millard

“The lesson is always there to be learned,” he said.

“Coaching staff, players, we all walked away with lessons.

“We were really proud of Game Three, but the end result wasn’t kind to us.

“With that, in a results-driven industry, we have to go back and look hard at our performances and we have done that.

“We took ownership of the result last year, we do have to put that aside and not forget it, but take small moments away where we can get better because Origin is all about small moments.

“Eventually, when the stakes get higher and the games go longer, they turn into bigger moments.

“We did take away some lessons and we will be looking to go out there and get the job done on Wednesday night.”