New footage exposes State of Origin trainer’s shifty act of ‘gamesmanship’

Footage which has emerged from Wednesday night’s State of Origin series opener explains the spray that a NSW trainer copped from referee Ashley Klein.

Klein could be heard on Nine’s coverage telling Blues trainer Eddie Farah — brother of Wests Tigers great Robbie — off for something that wasn’t picked up on the broadcast during the second half.

“Trainer, if you do that again you will not come back on the field,” Klein said sternly.

Initially, it wasn’t clear what the lecture was for. Now, a bird’s-eye view camera angle has exposed Farah for the shifty act of “gamesmanship”, as described by Cameron Smith.

It happened early in the second half when Queensland were coming hard at NSW, who would have taken any break in momentum they could get at the time.

A knock-on from Zac Lomax gave the Maroons a scrum 10 metres out from the line, putting them even more under the pump — but also providing a break in play.

Appearing to sense the opportunity, Farah did more than just give out the water when he came onto the field.

Before running off the field, the trainer took a detour into the in-goal area, where the ball was sitting, and kicked it further away, giving his Blues players an extra second or two to catch their breath.

“A little bit of gamesmanship happening there,” Smith said.

Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was onto it straight away, pointing out the act of poor sportsmanship to Klein as soon as he saw it.

Klein then blew his whistle and ordered the guilty trainer back over to him to issue the warning.

The Brisbane crowd were alert to it as well, drowning Farah in boos as he ran off with a smirk.

The break in play may have proved crucial, with the Blues driving Valentine Holmes out of play on the first tackle after the scrum.

It was one of few chances Queensland had to arrest momentum in a game which was largely dominated by NSW.

But Maroons coach Billy Slater insists his side’s series is not already over, with the Maroons needing to replicate NSW’s heroics from last year to regain the shield.

Wednesday night’s 18-6 defeat left the Maroons fighting to stay in the series, needing wins in both Perth and Sydney to do so.

The 12-point defeat also only told half the story, with NSW dominating field position and beating the Maroons through both the middle and out wide.

Adding to the concern for the Maroons is that they would need to defy history in order to lift the Shield.

Never in Queensland’s history have they come from 1-0 down when the final two games of the series are on the road.

Queensland also have a miserable record in Perth, beaten 38-6 and 44-12 in their only two outings at Optus Stadium since it first hosted Origin in 2022.

But if the Maroons need inspiration they need look no further than NSW last year, who were flogged in Origin I at home before winning in Melbourne and Brisbane.

In order to replicate that, Slater’s men will need to be significantly better after handing NSW the ascendancy early on Wednesday and never really taking it back.

“Probably some decisions ... about the discipline side of the game (have to be better),” Slater said.

“And I’ll look at my preparation as well. I’m not out of this. It’s not just the players, it’s everyone, and we’ll all look at ourselves.

“I know there’s so much more in this footy team.

“It’s a best of three. You’ve only got to win two games, and that’s still alive.”

- With AAP