Cummins to ref Roosters-Storm NRL clash

Ben Cummins will referee the Sydney Roosters for the first time this weekend since Tricolours coach Trent Robinson’s Anzac Day verbal attack on the NRL’s top whistleblower.

Robinson was fined $40,000 for his spray of Cummins after the Roosters’ controversial round-eight loss to St George Illawarra.

“Ben has been horrible and disrespectful to our players for many years and it has continued,” Robinson said at the time.

“We have had a good high-percentage win rate until this year … he speaks poorly to our players. He won’t look them in the eye.

“The way that he spoke to (captain) Jake (Friend) during the game was unacceptable.”

The appointment of Cummins to the Roosters’ round-14 clash with Melbourne on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium comes less than a week after NSW coach Laurie Daley had savaged Cummins’ officiating in the Blues’ loss in Wednesday’s State of Origin opener.

“Put it this way, I will be asking for those two referees to not officiate in game two … there’s your story,” Daley said.

When asked what he based his thoughts on, Daley replied: “Based on history and based on that game. There were plenty of big calls that happened.”

Gerard Sutton refereed Origin I alongside Cummins.

Chris Sutton will be Cummins’ assistant referee for the Roosters-Storm clash.

Adam Devcich worked alongside Cummins on Anzac Day.

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