Cleary Gamble Backfires as Refereeing Bias Clouds Origin Showcase

In the wake of a bruising State of Origin Game 2 in Perth, the latest Kenty Blitz tackles the fallout from a series now squared at one all. From the "subconscious bias" of the refereeing to the gamble on a hobbled Nathan Cleary, Kenty and Woz debate why the game’s showcase event is being compromised.

The Ashley Klein "square up"

The biggest talking point remains the officiating of Ashley Klein. After New South Wales benefited from a lopsided penalty count in Game 1, the script flipped entirely in Perth. Queensland enjoyed an 8-0 penalty run in the first half, turning a 6-0 deficit into a 26-6 halftime lead.

"Klein should never referee Origin again," Kent declared. "He’s had the two biggest games so far this season and he’s blown them both. He’s taken the eventually losing team in both games and essentially watched one team while focusing on the other. It is unfathomable to think that the same teams that were perfect in Game 1 were suddenly undisciplined in Game 2."

Kent argues the issue is the modern "game management" style over actual adjudication. "The referee is rewarded for not blowing penalties, so when they do blow them, it’s at their discretion. It spoils the spectacle and corrupts the rules of the game."

The Nathan Cleary gamble

New South Wales coach Laurie Daley took a massive risk by playing Nathan Cleary, who was managing a significant leg injury throughout the week. While Cleary showed flashes of brilliance in the second half, his first 40 minutes were clearly hampered by the injury.

"New South Wales rolled the dice and it didn’t really pay off," Kent noted. "Cleary said after the game that he decided at halftime to block the pain out. If he could do that in the second half, he should have done it in the first. You can’t manage your way through an Origin game."

The hosts questioned the wisdom of carrying three key players—Cleary, Payne Haas, and Brian To'o—who all missed significant training time. "You can carry one bloke who's injured, but you can't carry three. It had a massive impact on the Blues' rhythm."

Queensland’s "run harder, tackle harder" masterclass

While the refereeing was a factor, Kent was quick to praise Queensland’s physical adjustment. Following a "master stroke" from Billy Slater, which included naming Cameron Munster as captain and starting Daly Cherry-Evans on the bench, the Maroons returned to the fundamental aggression of Origin.

"They just ran harder and tackled harder. It sounds simple, but that was the adjustment they got right," Kent said. He singled out Lindsey Collins and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui for their "brave" and "aggressive" leadership. "They were really up for the fight last night and they deserved the win. They put their bodies on the line and accepted the pain that comes with it."

The "Wrexham" warning for the Perth Bears

The episode concluded with a look at the expansion efforts in Perth. Despite the success of the Origin event, local media coverage was notably sparse, highlighting the "massive concern" of competing in an AFL-dominated market.

Kent also issued a warning to the new CEO of the Perth Bears, Anthony Segler, following his comments about wanting a "Wrexham-type" documentary for the club. "That’s a five-alarm fire for me. It shows how naive he is. Go and get yourself a good roster first and foremost, and worry about the Netflix documentaries later."

With Game 3 looming and the club season resuming, the pressure is on the NRL to ensure the Game 3 is decided by the players, not the whistle.

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.