Greg Inglis has delivered some advice to NSW about refereeing complaints ahead of Wednesday’s second rugby league State of Origin match at ANZ Stadium.
The scorer of Queensland’s highly-controversial match-sealing try in game one, Inglis said the Blues should take a leaf from the Maroons’ book and focus their energy on taking marginal refereeing calls out of the equation.
Like his teammates, Inglis concedes that Ricky Stuart’s NSW team out-enthused Queensland at the start of the first game in Melbourne and had them on the back foot before the Maroons rallied to win, with the Blues furious over several refereeing calls.
“They played tremendous (in Melbourne) there’s no doubt about,” said star centre Inglis.
“But Origins are all about playing 80 minutes not just this and that and not relying on refs to make decisions.
“Obviously you can go back and look at certain decisions but you can’t leave it in the ref’s hands or anything like that.
“You have to go out and perform for the full 80 minutes and be able to overcome adversity which is what we did in Melbourne.
“That’s what Queensland teams before us have always been able to do.”
Inglis admitted that influential Blues winger Jarryd Hayne’s return to form – highlighted by his trademark “Hayne Plane” try celebration in Parramatta’s breakthrough NRL win on Monday night – was an ominous sign for the next Origin clash.
“He might be coming into some form and some confidence and that plays a big part in our game,” said Inglis.
“He showed in game one he’s a very dangerous player and he might be on his way to his best.
“What we have to do is get our preparation and mind set right to go down there and put in a good 80 minute performance.”
Meanwhile, Inglis remains wryly amused by the controversy that raged over his hotly disputed try in game one awarded by video referee Sean Hampstead.
“It can be (the most controversial try in history) but it went on the scoreboard,” said Inglis.
“It was four points.
“It’s in the history book and it’s been proved it was in the rule book.”
Inglis admits he wasn’t sure about the ruling at the time as he awaited Hampstead’s pressure call.
“I’ve had a few jokes here and there from blokes saying ‘I wouldn’t have taken that’ and I’m like ‘well that’s you, not me’.