‘I’ll stop you there’: Twist as referee exchange audio goes missing
A State of Origin flashpoint was kept from viewers with Queensland captain Cameron Munster seen in a prickly moment before controversy exploded.
Queensland captain Cameron Munster has clarified why he approached referee Ashley Klein during NSW’s shock 30-12 victory at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
Munster was pulling his hair out at times throughout the game and approached Klein twice in the space of two minutes at the end of the first half.
The Melbourne Storm playmaker was seen in a prickly exchange with Klein where he was heard on the broadcast complaining his team did not get “the rub of the green”.
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“There have been some calls mate, that I deem to be warranted 10 in the bin,” Munster said to Klein.
“We haven’t had the rub of the green, I know they’re 50/50’s.”
Klein then cut in to say: “I’ll stop you there. That’s your opinion, we’re just making decisions based on what we see in the moment”.
Munster appeared ready to voice more concerns when he said: “And also too…”.
His final sentence was cut off when Channel 9 commentator Mathew Thompson threw the broadcast to Allana Ferguson on the sideline.
The final piece of audio went missing from the telecast.
Munster was more composed when asked about the controversial moments during the post-match press conference.
“I just had questions around certain things we were getting around the game,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we just didn’t ice our moments like Bill spoke about.
“A bit of frustration from myself. In the heat of the moment just asking Ash some questions.
“But he saw them a little bit different to myself and he’s the referee and he adjudicates the game the way he sees it. And that’s how he saw it.”
Slater also said during the press conference: “Things didn’t go our way”.
Klein’s rulings during the match have divided NRL commentators with Queenslanders voicing frustrations over the way ruck infringements were policed.
The most vocal critic of Klein came during the match when Harry Grant’s pleas for penalties were rejected.
There were multiple times during the match where Grant scooted out of dummy half in a deliberate attempt to win a penalty to catch NSW marker defenders for not being straight.
He seemed incensed early in the second half and screamed in Klein’s direction after Addin Fonua-Blake was not penalised when he made a tackle, but appeared to be caught out of position when Trent Loiero played the ball.
The Suncorp Stadium crowd appeared to agree and a chorus of boos could be heard coming through on the Channel 9 broadcast.
For the record, Queensland had four ruck infringements during the game compared to the Blues’ three.
Before Munster’s half time chat with Klein, the Maroons skipper also appeared stunned when NSW were awarded a penalty and Briton Nikora was put on report for leading with his elbows into the face of Jack Bostock.
His pleas were rejected.
Queensland legend Cameron Smith agreed with Munster, saying “really?” when calling the action on Channel 9.
Munster’s interactions with Klein have been overshadowed by the enormous controversy that has surrounded two calls made by the Bunker.
Smith has called for a “serious review” into the Bunker system after the Blues were awarded a try despite Bostock appearing to knock the ball forward during a marking contest.
Before Bradman Best stormed clear to run the length of the field, replays suggested Bostock got his hand to the ball as he contested with Robert Toia.
Commentator Brad Fittler then told viewers the Bunker found Bostock had not touched the ball after analysing a corner post camera which was not shown on the broadcast.
In a late twist, the NRL confirmed Bostock did in fact knock the ball on and the wrong decision was made, which will do little to ease the pain for the Maroons.
“After reviewing all available angles, the Bunker did not believe there was sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision,” a statement from an NRL spokesperson said.
“Upon detailed review after the match, the NRL believes that while it was an extremely tight decision, the ball appeared to be touched.”
Another dagger into the hearts of Queensland came when the Maroons were denied a try for Max Path being ruled offside.
Tolu Koula let a high kick from Sam Walker bounce and the NSW’s back three were caught ball watching, and the Steeden bounced up for Toia for a fairly straightforward try.
However, replays showed Max Plath’s boot was ahead of the kicker before he ran within 10m of the play alongside Toia.
The Bunker will not have many fans on the north side of the Tweed River on Thursday.