During the second half of the State of Origin Game 1, Eddie Farah, the trainer for the NSW Blues and brother of Robbie Farah, found himself in the spotlight for an act of questionable sportsmanship. After Zac Lomax’s knock-on, the Maroons prepared for a scrum just ten metres from their goal line. Blues players took advantage of the break to hydrate, with Mitch Moses receiving the ball from Farah. In a provocative move, Moses then tossed the ball away while Daly Cherry-Evans, the Maroons’ captain, gestured toward him in disbelief.
Farah, clad in his distinctive orange shirt, escalated the situation by kicking the ball away over the dead ball line, prompting Cherry-Evans to look toward referee Ashley Klein with frustration. Klein caught the act and issued a clear warning to Farah, stating, “Trainer, if you do that again you will not come back on the field.” Although the incident was subtle on the main broadcast, footage captured by Nine’s spider cam revealed the reason Klein intervened. As the pro-Queensland crowd voiced their displeasure, commentator Cameron Smith noted the gamesmanship at play.
Despite the controversy, Queensland squandered the opportunity to capitalise on the situation, as Valentine Holmes was tackled on the very next play, missing a chance to gain momentum. The incident highlighted the intense competitiveness inherent in State of Origin matches, underscoring the fine line teams walk between clever tactics and unsportsmanlike conduct.