NSW coach Ricky Stuart and referees coach Bill Harrigan have come face to face for the first time since the controversial State of Origin opener which sparked their war or words.
With NSWRL general manager Geoff Carr and Blues adviser Bob Fulton by his side, Stuart headed to Rugby League Central on Friday afternoon armed with proof of a host of referees’ calls he believes went against his side in game one.
The most controversial was the video referee decision to award Queensland centre Greg Inglis’ match sealing try in the Maroons’ 18-10 win, which was followed by a claim from Blues assistant coach Trent Barrett that Harrigan admitted the decision was incorrect.
Harrigan denied ever passing judgement on the ruling – which he later insisted had been the correct call – but it did not stop the ARL Commission conducting a review into the match officials operations.
Stuart had initially indicated he did not want to meet with Harrigan or fellow referees coach Stuart Raper, but was convinced to go ahead with the meeting by ARLC general manager of football operations Nathan McGuirk, who also attended the gathering.
“It was a positive discussion with the referees,” Stuart said in a statement.
“There are always going to be issues in a match that you want to discuss and that you want to understand for the next time you play.
“That is what happens with coaches from week to week in the Telstra premiership and it is an important part of the Origin process as well.”
McGuirk confirmed that Queensland officials have been offered the same opportunity to meet with Harrigan and Raper.