‘The game’s rorted’: Maroons forward who labelled Origin ref ‘double agent’ reprimanded

A Maroons forward has landed in hot water for his comments about State of Origin ref Ashley Klein after Qld claimed the Origin shield.

Maroons extended squad member Josh Kerr has labelled Origin referee Ashley Klein a “double agent” in an all-time interview following Queensland’s series-deciding win in Sydney.

The Dolphins forward was in good spirits on Thursday morning when he fired a light-hearted barb at Klein over his officiating in game three, with the NRL handing down a breach notice alleging Kerr’s comments were “detrimental to the best interests of the game”.

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The Queensland squad member was also deemed to have “undermined the credibility of match officials”, being given five days to respond before a potential punishment is handed down.

Watch Josh Kerr’s cheeky post-Origin interview in the player above.

Josh Kerr labelled Ashley Klein a 'double agent' and has now been punished.

“I’m not sure how much trouble I could get into for saying it but I thought Ash Klein did a bit to try and, you know, even it up or make it a bit closer,” Kerr told Fox Sports News.

“We were sitting there going, ‘it’s rorted, the game’s rorted’.

“I haven’t got the best eyesight at times but I’m watching four passes and sh*t.

“We were all on the sideline just going, ‘oh, no, it’s a double agent’.

“It makes it more exciting, doesn’t it, and it brings out the Queenslander in all those players.”

Klein came under fire after game two in which the Blues were on the wrong end of a lop-sided 10-2 penalty count. That was reversed in the decider where the Blues won the count 7-3.

The Maroons were too strong for the Blues in the series decider, winning 24-12 at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

The visitors led 20-0 at halftime, scoring three unanswered tries through Xavier Coates, Tom Dearden and Harry Grant.

Blues centre Stephen Crichton scored the first try of the night for the hosts at the 55th minute, before Dearden went in for his second of the night at the 73rd minute, to seal the result.

NSW winger Brian To’o scored a consolation try at the 79th minute.

It was Maroons coach Billy Slater’s third series win from his four in charge, going back to 2022.

Originally published as ‘The game’s rorted’: Maroons forward who labelled Origin ref ‘double agent’ reprimanded