Fans were left wondering why referee Ashley Klein angrily threatened to kick NSW trainer Eddie Farah off the field in Origin game one on Wednesday night – and now new footage has provided the answer.
Farah – whose brother is Wests Tigers and Blues great Robbie – was on the field about four minutes into the second half when NSW star Zac Lomax knocked on, giving Queensland a scrum 10 metres out from the line.
The Maroons were desperate to get the ball back quickly as they trailed 14-2 with the Blues a man down – but Mitchell Moses threw it into the in-goal area.
That was bad enough for Queensland fans, but then the new footage – which wasn’t aired on Channel Nine – showed Farah rubbing salt into the wound by kicking the ball over the sideline, giving his team more time to recover and compose themselves.
Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans blew up at referee Ashley Klein, who was then heard on the broadcast barking at Farah, ‘Trainer, if you do that again, you will not come back on the field.’
Queensland legend turned Nine commentator Cameron Smith described the underhanded act as ‘a bit of gamesmanship’ but Cane Toads fans were furious and could be heard booing loudly after the incident.
Pictured: A grab from the video showing the moment NSW trainer Eddie Farah kicked the ball over the sideline, leaving Queensland furious
Farah (in orange) was yelled at by Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans (to Farah’s right) with referee Ashley Klein (in white) threatening to ban him from returning to the field
Footy fans online were mystified and posted on X to ask if anyone could clear up why Klein made the threat.
Farah’s actions come soon after two NRL trainers were busted putting water on the ball to disadvantage the opposition in the same match.
First Penrith trainer Shane Elford was caught in the act on a fan’s video during the round 10 clash with North Queensland, which ended in a 30-all draw.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten was furious, accusing Elford of wetting the ball ‘before every kickoff’ the Panthers took in order to make the Steeden harder to handle for the opposition.
However, Cowboys trainer Mitchell Dunn was also caught out doing exactly the same thing during the match.
Referee Todd Smith caught Dunn in the act and thold him, Hang on, hang on, no, no, no, no, nup, nup, give me the ball. You’re not doing that. No way, get another footy.’
The NRL responded by sending both clubs breach notices proposing fines of $10,000 and two-match suspensions for Dunn and Elford.
Farah’s act can’t be blamed for costing Queensland victory on what was a dire night for them at Suncorp Stadium.
Farah is pictured running from the playing area after his dressing-down from Klein
The stern words from Klein (pictured right with Cherry-Evans) followed two trainers being busted using a very underhanded tactic in the same NRL game earlier this month
They were so poor that footy icon and Channel Nine star Andrew Johns called for them to axe one of their best and longest-serving stars.
Daly Cherry-Evans, the oldest Origin player in history, was below his best in his 26th match for the Maroons and NSW’s greatest half said it was time for Tom Dearden, who played off the bench on Wednesday night, to replace him.
Johns also expressed the view that the Maroons, who were dominated up front and out wide, were not capable of fixing their issues.
‘Look, no one beats Father Time and DCE is what, (36)? I think they have to pull the trigger and bring Dearden in,’ Johns said on Channel Nine.
‘ I don’t know where the improvement comes with this group.
‘NSW, if they were on tonight, they they win by 40 or 50. They left so many tries out there and they’ll be better for that.
‘I don’t know if they can go up another level, Queensland. I think there has to be changes with (Canberra prop) Corey Horsburgh, he’s one I think can add something.
‘(South Sydney forward) Jai Arrow is an Origin player, but the big one is Dearden and whether they pull the trigger on Dearden with DCE.’
