Local ref backs Origin pair after game
RUGBY LEAGUE: Warwick referee Rodney Ogden isn’t jumping on the bandwagon to criticise the referees in Wednesday night State of Origin match which Queensland won 6-4.
Ogden referees in Warwick and District juniors and was part of the Toowoomba Rugby League referee’s panel last season.
“There are going to be 50/50 calls and they went both ways in Origin,” Ogden said.
“I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the refereeing, I believe Gerard Sutton and Ben Cummings are the best two we have.”
Ogden was surprised New South Wales coach Laurie Daley didn’t comment on the refereeing in his after match interview with Channel 9 and later called for two new referees for Origin 2 at the media conference.
“Have you even seen footy played when a player admits he didn’t score a try,” he said.
“I thought Josh Morris was short of scoring but the officials in the bunker who ruled no try have a lot more camera angles than the fans at home.”
He praised the referees for letting the game flow and not blowing it up too much.
Ogden thought Queensland fullback Darius Boyd would have been a strong chance for the player of the match award won by Matt Gillett.
“Gillett played well but the positional play by Boyd was outstanding and he fitted into the backline well. I thought Boyd Cordner and Josh Jackson stood out for the Blues,” Ogden said.
