The Mole: Calls Intensify for Ashley Klein’s Ouster in Origin Decider Amidst Criticism Over Uneven Penalty Count

Officials from New South Wales are likely to advocate for a referee change for the upcoming Origin decider following the contentious officiating by Ashley Klein on a rain-soaked pitch in Perth on Wednesday night.

While Queensland delivered an impressive performance, and the Blues experienced their fair share of discipline issues, no Origin side can realistically overcome a 10-2 penalty count.

Klein had recorded an 8-0 penalty tally by half-time, essentially sealing the match’s fate with a score of 26-6.

Blues supporters who made the long journey to Perth were left seething, as were many rugby league legends.

Even Maroons legend Corey Parker expressed disbelief at the situation.

“I simply can’t comprehend what I witnessed,” Parker said during his appearance on SENQ Breakfast.

“It was 8-0 at half-time, and as a Queensland supporter, you could argue that each of those eight penalties were deserved.

“However, I don’t believe one team should receive 12 penalties, with 10 of them going against the other.”

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“Personally, I think that’s a concerning aspect for the sport.”

Blues great Greg Alexander also concurred, though he admitted that the penalties against the Blues were largely justified.

“Many of the penalties against NSW were indeed warranted,” Alexander commented on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“The incident involving Jarome Luai was foolish, and while I believe a set restart should have been called before the Zac Lomax elbow, that elbow was still a penalty.

“NSW made errors after the penalties, which compounded their issues.

“But my key point regarding the penalty count is that Queensland didn’t receive a single one in the first half.”

Blues coach Laurie Daley chose a tactful approach, stating: “I can’t express my true feelings, so I’ll refrain from saying anything.”

Numerous players, coaches, and notably fans continue to be left perplexed each week by how Klein seemingly remains a go-to referee for major matches regardless of his recent form.

While he faced criticism for overly frequent whistle-blowing in a lacklustre game one, the penalty count was relatively balanced compared to the significant skew in Perth.

Following their strong performance in the last match, Queensland will undoubtedly be eager to retain Klein for the decider, placing NRL officials in a bind as they approach the Sydney clash in three weeks.