Blues coach Brad "Freddy" Fittler was more critical than Maroons mentor Kevin Walters of the referees' performance in their post-game State of Origin assessments despite fans blowing up on social media about blunders which appeared to favour NSW.
Walters said his team had to learn from the 4-1 penalty countthat went against his team. "I thought they did a good job," Fittler said.
"Watching the Queensland guys come off the line, they're just really good at slowing us down and coming off their line. They've been doing it for a long time. They're really good at it.
"In the past it's been obvious, but tonight as a team they did a really good job of it. I'd love to get our team to do that. I thought their back five or back three got out of their end a lot easier than ours.
"I don't know if there were many decisions that the referees had to really call on.
Queensland fans were ropeable about the ball being reefed from Gagai's grasp in what was ruled a loose carry, giving momentum to NSW.
Fans and commentators were far more furious over the blatant James Maloney forward pass that led to Josh Addo-Carr's match-sealing try in the 68th minute. The Blues five-eighth's cut-out ball to Addo-Carr appeared to travel 4m forward.
