NSW Blues legend Benny Elias has expressed concern over a recent image of Daly Cherry-Evans engaging in a lengthy conversation with referee Ashley Klein, which reportedly lasted around 20 minutes after a training session at Brookvale Oval. This interaction has raised eyebrows, particularly as Klein has been appointed the on-field referee for the upcoming State of Origin opener.
Elias admitted that the thought of their discussion “shudders” his mind, implying that it may have been an inappropriate interaction, especially given the timing with the Origin series approaching. He remarked, “the mind shudders to think what the hell those two were talking about,” referencing the tradition of Queensland players trying to curry favour with referees before major matches.
Despite no implication of wrongdoing in their meeting, the optics of Cherry-Evans, who captains the Maroons, appearing jovial with Klein has left the Blues camp feeling uneasy. This is especially relevant at this pivotal moment in the rugby league season.
Ben Ikin, the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) boss, took a light-hearted jab at Elias in response to the photo, stating, “Seeing this picture warms my heart. I’ve always known Daly Cherry-Evans was one step ahead of the average footballer. This just proves it. What gets me most excited is how much it would annoy Benny Elias.”
As the excitement builds for the series, which kicks off at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, the attention will undoubtedly be on how the relationship between players and officials plays out on the field.