The fallout over Origin I may have claimed two referees’ scalps but Queensland forward Ben Hannant reckoned NSW were “kidding themselves” if they thought controversial calls cost them the series opener.

Queensland’s 18-10 win was overshadowed by NSW’s complaints over Origin rookie whistleblowers Matt Cecchin and Ben Cummins as well as video referee Sean Hampstead, namely the awarding of a contentious second-half try to Maroons matchwinner Greg Inglis.

NSW coach Ricky Stuart was so enraged that he placed a media ban on his players ahead of Origin II – which he was later forced to remove – and hired an independent analyst that reportedly revealed Queensland went unpunished in game one for 10 incidents that warranted penalties.

Cecchin and Hampstead were on Tuesday axed for next week’s Origin II in Sydney, with veteran Tony Archer to partner the retained Cummins on the field and Steve Clark installed as the new video ref.

But Hannant said it was NSW – not the referees – who didn’t do their job right in Origin I.

“You have 80 minutes to get the job done,” he told AAP.

“Anyone who puts it down to one decision, they are kidding themselves.

“You get 40 sets in a game to score. If you can’t get across the line more than the opposition then you haven’t done your job right.

“You shouldn’t have to leave it to the referees to be able to win it.

“We certainly haven’t been worrying about that (blaming referees).”

Queensland coach Mal Meninga said he would have no problem with who officiated game two but thought it was “bizarre” that referees had become an Origin talking point.

“The referees have copped a fair beating the last 10 days which I think is unfortunate,” he said.

“If Ricky does seek a referees meeting (before Origin II) we want to be part of that too but if he doesn’t it’s not necessary for me to see the refs.

“I am comfortable with where the referees are at.

“It’s like every game – you live and die by their decisions.

“Things that go against you are by your own means not the referees.”

Asked if NSW’s complaints would place the Origin II officials under pressure, Meninga said: “We will have to wait and see.”

But Queensland chairman John McDonald – sitting next to Meninga at the Maroons team press conference on Tuesday – quickly interjected: “I thought the (NSW) comments were unfounded.

“The referees who go in week in, week out do the job extremely well and then they back up for Origin – we are very fortunate to have referees of that calibre.”