Latest news with #AshleyKlein
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Fraud': Blues scammed by unrecognisable superstar in series-tying loss
Let history show there was only one fraud responsible for ensuring an Origin decider in 2025 - and it wasn't Ashley Klein. Cameron Munster's infectious performance in game two will not only be remembered as one of the great playmaker's knocks, but also the biggest scam in Origin history. Why? Not because the Maroons barely eked home on sloppy Blues goalkicking, nor because Klein blew the whistle so often he was mistaken for a car alarm. Nope, it's because Munster did the Blues dirty with a shock new routine - the ability to dominate in Priest Mode. In horrific news for NSW, the captain's role has unlocked a new aspect of Munster that's as level-headed as it is two-faced. Announced as the state's new leader last week, Munster as a Maroons father figure was always bound to conflict with the bottle blonde tomcat we've come to know in so many larrikin grabs and grainy viral videos. But when he presented with a chill steeliness and clean shaven face at his unveiling, we were witnessing the beginning of the transition in real time. Then when he fronted multiple media calls throughout the week in full dad mode and team uniform - and not just to crack zingers or issue a public apology - he was truly unrecognisable. But once Munster lead by example on the paddock in a man of the match performance, not only had he fully transformed in to one of those testimonials on a Tony Robbins self help manual, he'd also confirmed his appointment a rousing success. Sure, it's too early to elevate the new skipper to the bar alongside esteemed types like Baron Cameron Smith, especially after he confirmed his latent larrikinism by slipping a cheeky F-bomb in the post-match interview like a verbal wink in a hostage video. However, the 30 year old proved Wednesday night that the weight of responsibility won't hamper the spring in his step. Just because he was Danny Tanner all week and held a stridently earnest pre-match interview with Johnathan Thurston on the team bus didn't mean he'd also play his footy like a sitcom dad. And just because he openly professed his love for the coach in the post-match press conference without being six beers deep doesn't mean he'll lose his playful edge either. Credit where it's due, Billy Slater has made his fair share of boofheaded decisions this series but he's absolutely nailed this one to the wall. With the series on the line, the coach was under stifling pressure to pull the right rein on Daly Cherry-Evans' replacement at skipper, lest be underlined as the first Queensland coach sunk by Aaron Woods. But when he ignored a raft of club captains to anoint Munster as captain, many believed he'd confused the state role with the social club. For all his mercurial brilliance, the Storm talisman has been widely celebrated as the Dally Messenger of good times, a free spirit whose rhinocerene appetite for a beer is matched only by his love of a poor decision. Who could forget when he was sin binned in the 2018 grand final for kicking? Or when he was banned for 12 months by the QRL in 2016 for breaking curfew at an Emerging Origin camp? Conversely, what about playing a leading hand in the 2020 series victory after fronting the team photo looking like he'd just served a 12 week sentence in the Milton brewery? Munster has always saddled the line between professional and playboy, a position that reached a crossroads in 2021 when he was sprung on film mucking up on the Gold Coast with Brandon Smith. When it comes to selecting a new skipper, there's no scarier trio of terms on a CV than 'unidentified white powder', 'Gold Coast' and 'The Cheese' - but Slater still bravely gambled on his five-eighth and its come up trumps. Sure, we've all seen similar glimpses of Reverend Munster in recent times as he abandoned the bottle and the extra pounds, albeit the latter only because his wife jibed him about his muffin top. But his performance to save the series proves this captaincy caper could catapult his influence in Origin further towards Wally-esque areas. And all they had to do was shave him down and let him flip the coin. - Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad. He's never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Were the Blues unfairly treated? Here are all eight penalties blown against them in the first half
With eight shrill whistles, Ashley Klein officiated one of the most one-sided halves in modern State of Origin history. NSW coach Laurie Daley refused to go near the 8-0 halftime penalty count, telling reporters 'I can't tell you what I honestly think, so I won't say anything', no doubt with the NRL's edict on referee criticism in mind. Origin penalty counts have been broken down into first and second halves by statistic providers from 2000 onwards. Only the game-three dead rubber in 2016, won by NSW, has delivered as lopsided a count as Wednesday's Perth affair, with the Blues on the desirable end of a 9-1 first-half count that finished 12-3 by full-time. Klein's work in Queensland's 26-24 upset has already been howled down south of the Tweed as a contributing factor to the narrow loss. For the record, NSW were awarded six penalties to two in the first half at Suncorp Stadium a few weeks ago under Klein as well, with the final Origin I count 9-6 in favour of the Blues. In Origin II, ruck-speed statistics and a second-half swing in momentum to NSW led to something of a balancing up, though the final 10-2 penalty count ranks as the second-most lopsided of the past 25 years. It will naturally come under the microscope from NRL head office, as any one-way penalty count should.
Daily Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
State of Origin: NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley ‘privately furious' over Queensland Maroons penalty count, Ashley Klein
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Blues coach Laurie Daley is said to be 'privately furious' over the lopsided penalty count in Game 2, with one pundit believing referee Ashley Klein was 'refereeing one side' in the first half. The Blues were on the wrong end of an 8-0 first half penalty count, which turned into 9-0 after 45 minutes. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. During that time, the Maroons forged a 26-6 lead, which they almost coughed up in the second half but were able to hold on to force a decider. The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield tweeted '3 votes Klein' during Wednesday night's game, sarcastically implying Klein was the best on ground due to his impact with the whistle. Laurie Daley was tight-lipped after the Game 2 defeat. Picture David Clark Rothfield was on Thursday night's episode of NRL360 where he shared that Daley wasn't happy with the referee's performance. Daley didn't wish to comment on the penalty count during his post-match presser. 'Laurie will look at the video and find out what he wants to talk to the NRL about and then take it to adjudication,' Rothfield said. 'He was furious after the game. Privately furious, but he knows he can't come out and say anything. Not just for the fine, but because it'll look like poor sportsmanship.' Rothfield went onto say that in his mind, the officiating wasn't the reason the Blues were defeated, but the veteran journalist was at a loss as to why New South Wales didn't cop one single penalty in the first 45 minutes. 'I think NSW were ill-disciplined and I don't have too many problems with the nine penalties they conceded,' he said. 'The problem I do have is that anyone can look at a replay of that first half and find 4-5 areas of the game where Queensland could quite easily have been penalised as well. 'In my eyes, he was refereeing one side for the majority of the first half. Referee Ashley Klein was in the spotlight after the lopsided penalty count. (Photo by) 'I know we were ill-disciplined and I'm not blaming it for the loss … but you cannot be perfect in Origin for 45 minutes. Impossible. 'It's outrageous that Queensland can play 45 minutes in State of Origin and that intensity, mistakes are made, high speed, high intensity and not one penalty. That cannot happen.' 'There were a couple I thought were dubious but what I'm trying to say is that all the 50-50 calls went Queensland's way,' NRL360 host Braith Anasta added. 'You're not going to see that again. You're not going to see a 8-0 penalty count again.' Originally published as Blues coach Laurie Daley 'privately furious' over Origin 2 penalty count
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Blues coach Laurie Daley ‘privately furious' over Origin 2 penalty count
Blues coach Laurie Daley is said to be 'privately furious' over the lopsided penalty count in Game 2, with one pundit believing referee Ashley Klein was 'refereeing one side' in the first half. The Blues were on the wrong end of an 8-0 first half penalty count, which turned into 9-0 after 45 minutes. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. During that time, the Maroons forged a 26-6 lead, which they almost coughed up in the second half but were able to hold on to force a decider. The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield tweeted '3 votes Klein' during Wednesday night's game, sarcastically implying Klein was the best on ground due to his impact with the whistle. Rothfield was on Thursday night's episode of NRL360 where he shared that Daley wasn't happy with the referee's performance. Daley didn't wish to comment on the penalty count during his post-match presser. 'Laurie will look at the video and find out what he wants to talk to the NRL about and then take it to adjudication,' Rothfield said. 'He was furious after the game. Privately furious, but he knows he can't come out and say anything. Not just for the fine, but because it'll look like poor sportsmanship.' Rothfield went onto say that in his mind, the officiating wasn't the reason the Blues were defeated, but the veteran journalist was at a loss as to why New South Wales didn't cop one single penalty in the first 45 minutes. 'I think NSW were ill-disciplined and I don't have too many problems with the nine penalties they conceded,' he said. 'The problem I do have is that anyone can look at a replay of that first half and find 4-5 areas of the game where Queensland could quite easily have been penalised as well. 'In my eyes, he was refereeing one side for the majority of the first half. 'I know we were ill-disciplined and I'm not blaming it for the loss … but you cannot be perfect in Origin for 45 minutes. Impossible. 'It's outrageous that Queensland can play 45 minutes in State of Origin and that intensity, mistakes are made, high speed, high intensity and not one penalty. That cannot happen.' 'There were a couple I thought were dubious but what I'm trying to say is that all the 50-50 calls went Queensland's way,' NRL360 host Braith Anasta added. 'You're not going to see that again. You're not going to see a 8-0 penalty count again.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Simple photos sum up why eight million people are FURIOUS about State of Origin
A simple photo of Blues captain Isaah Yeo in heated discussion with referee Ashley Klein has encapsulated the discontent NSW supporters have towards the officiating on Wednesday night. Despite a spirited second-half comeback, the Blues couldn't quite seal victory, with Cameron Munster's side holding out in a dramatic finish, to win the match 26-24 and level the series at 1-1. Referee Ashley Klein awarded eight penalties for the Maroons - and none for Laurie Daley's men across the opening 40 minutes. The count at the end of the match was 10-2. NSW's lack of discipline didn't help at Optus Stadium - but many supporters were incensed on social media as Billy Slater's team took a 26-6 lead into the sheds. 'Ashley Klein needs to pull his head in. You cannot tell me he hasn't been instructed to favour Queensland,' posted one on X. 'I know the NRL want a decider, but Klein can't even hide the bias. 8-0 penalty count and all the six-again calls. You may as well skipped game 2 and just gone to game 3,' fumed another. 'Looks like Klein took part in the Queensland Captain's run,' joked a third. Former players were furious with the brutal penalty count, too. Ex-Blues playemaker Jamie Soward posted: 'That will do me. Ash doing his best to get in the way here.' Jarryd Hayne posted: 'This is why Origin is the greatest game in this country!!! Regardless of the pressure teams face, it is the team spirit that truly matters. 'Ps 7-0 pen count. Did some individuals attempt to influence the referees to force a decider?' Blues captain Isaah Yeo was pictured in a tense discussion with Klein during the match, looking visibly frustrated. Following the match, Yeo said he thought the 50/50 calls went against the Blues all night. 'There's certainly a few that we were shooting ourselves in the foot with and they were just penalties,' he said. 'Other ones are 50-50. Some nights you get them, some nights you don't. So what you can't do is you can't go drop the ball early in the next set early in the tackle count when you've got the ball. 'So obviously I'd like that to be a bit more even, but we were our own worst enemy at times as well.' NSW coach Laurie Daley was more blunt when asked about the officiating.
