- Josh Kerr is in hot water with the NRL after referee comments
- Maroons prop said Origin referee Ashley Klein a ‘double agent’
Maroons player Josh Kerr has been hit with a breach notice for labelling Origin referee Ashley Klein a ‘double agent’ following Queensland’s victory last week.
The Dolphins star made the extraordinary comments when stopped by media on Thursday morning.
‘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 News Corp outside the team hotel.
‘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”.
Josh Kerr has been hit with a breach notice for labelling referee Ashley Klein a ‘double agent’
The Dolphins star made the extraordinary comments when stopped by media on Thursday morning after a night of celebrations
‘It makes it more exciting, doesn’t it, and it brings out the Queenslander in all those players.’
The NRL have responded to the remarks, stating that Kerr’s comments have contravened the code of conduct and are ‘detrimental to the best interests of the game’.
Kerr has been given five business days to respond.
Klein was heavily criticised after game two for awarding eight penalties for the Maroons – and none for Laurie Daley’s men across the opening 40 minutes.
In the series decider, Queensland left New South Wales stunned as they won back State of Origin bragging rights with a 24-12 victory against the Blues.
Emotional scenes erupted at full-time as players and coaches from both sides rallied around Maroons captain Cameron Munster, who returned to guide his side to the epic victory, following the sudden passing of his dad, Steven.
Tom Dearden was crowned the Player of the Series and once again stood up for the Maroons, scoring twice either side of half-time, with Xavier Coates and Harry Grant also crossing the whitewash.
Referee Ashley Klein (pictured) was heavily criticised after game two of the Origin series
New South Wales had looked a shadow of the side that had won the opening fixture of the series, with the Maroons running out a 20-0 lead by half-time.
It was coach Billy Slater’s third Origin series victory.
