A photo of Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans laughing with Origin I referee Ashley Klein inside an empty 4 Pines Park has raised eyebrows in Blues camp.
This masthead snapped an image of the Queensland captain and the game’s leading whistle-blower after a manly training session a couple of weeks ago.
It is not uncommon for referees to assist with NRL clubs’ opposed training sessions.
However, it is rare for a whistle-blower and a player to spend nearly 20 minutes deep in conversation, as Cherry-Evans and Klein did that day.
Cherry-Evans would not comment when contacted during the week while Klein laughed and said they were only discussing their children.
NSW coach Laurie Daley paused, smiled and said Ash is a professional.
Benny Elias, who was inducted into the NSWRL Hall of Fame on Monday, did not like the look of the Maroons skipper and the Origin I referee looking so chummy, especially with the Blues about to enter enemy territory for game one in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
Elias says the mind shudders to think what the hell those two were talking about and although it is that time of year again when Queensland starts buttering up the referee.
Meanwhile, the New South Wales Blues will play Queensland Maroons at 10.05pm on Wednesday.
[Source: Sydney Herald]
