Matty Johns reveals hard truth for New South Wales following controversial State of Origin Game II
In the aftermath of Wednesday night's Origin match in Perth there have been calls for referee Ashley Klein to be demoted for Game 3 following a lopsided penalty count, favouring Queensland 10-2.
On the Backstage with Cooper and Matty Johns podcast, Johns declared the hard truth was that the penalty count was nothing but the fault of the Blues' poor discipline.
'Us New South Welshman, most people will point to that and go look at that, but I tell you what, we were f***ing undisciplined,' he said.
'That's it. Don't blame the referee. We were undisciplined.'
At half-time Queensland had eight penalties while NSW were not awarded any inside the first 40 minutes.
Queensland made the most of the penalty count, establishing a 26-6 lead at the break before holding off a late Blues comeback in the second half.
After winning 26-24, Queensland will now battle it out in a series decider at Sydney's Accor Stadium on July 9.
Many rugby league greats and punters did not mince their words following the controversial nail-biter.
Former NSW superstar Jarryd Hayne took to X in the first half, posting: 'This is why Origin is the greatest game in this country!!! Regardless of the pressure teams face, it is the team spirit that truly matters.
'Ps 7-0 pen count. Did some individuals attempt to influence the referees to force a decider?'
While another former Blues representative Jamie Soward said: 'That will do me. Ash doing his best to get in the way here'.
Former Penrith Panther Greg Alexander said on SEN1170, 'god knows what's going to happen in Game 3' following the officiating in the match.
'We have a decider. Boy didn't we really want one of those and not too subtle way to do it. Let's just make the penalty count 8-0 at half time. Eight-nil,' Alexander fumed.
'I don't think I have ever written a referee's name as many times on a piece of paper as I did last night, through that first half.
'My god I know some of the penalties blown against us were warranted, but if Queensland weren't offside a thousand times last night, especially on their line in that little period where NSW were attacking the line. I am going well 'what is he looking at. Is he looking at the line'."
NSW had to wait 45 minutes to be awarded their first penalty of the game, shortly scoring soon after.
A few punters responded to Alexander's fiery words with one saying, 'NSW supporters are sookie'.
'Doesn't help when a team is elbowing or eye gouging. Seriously, take a look at the ill-discipline before blaming the referees,' another added.
Five-eighth Jarome Luai escaped a suspension after initially being accused of eye gouging in a tackle on Maroons forward Reuben Cotter, while winger Zac Lomax got off a charge after a blatant elbow to the head of Trent Loiero.
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