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'S**t no': Maroons great blasts controversial 'milking' agreement

James Tedesco (pictured right) during State of Origin and (pictured left) Daly Cherry-Evans before Origin.
James Tedesco (pictured right) and Daly Cherry-Evans (pictured left) have reportedly made a gentleman's agreement over playing in the spirit of the game. (Getty Images)

State of Origin great Nate Myles has blasted suggestions there is an agreement between the captain's players won't 'milk' injuries for a penalty during this year's clash.

An ugly side-effect of the referees' strict punishment of high tackles since last month's Magic Round has been a rise in players staying down or overreacting while appealing for penalties when any high contact is made in a tackle.

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This prompted calls from both Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and NSW captain James Tedesco to call for both camps to agree to avoid exploiting the stricter rule.

However, Tuesday on Fox Sports' NRL 360, Queensland great Myles ripped into suggestions the players won't do anything possible to win.

“S**t no there is no gentlemen’s agreement in Origin,” Myles said when if the Maroons would stick to their captains' plea.

“You play for keeps.”

When NRL 360 host Ben Ikin interjected and questioned if Myles thinks the players will break the 'agreement', the former forward was adamant.

“If there is a chance to get a penalty to get your team on the front foot that players from both sides will just do what is required?" Myles said.

“Mate if there is a penalty to be given in the 78th minute and they need one point and they can kick a goal, they are laying.”

Greg Alexander tells players to get up

However, Alexander said he was sick of the state of rugby league in the last few weeks and called for all players to do the right thing.

”You’ve got to get up,” he said.

“What has happened in club football over the last couple of rounds is a stain on the game.

“If someone does it tomorrow night from either side it is certainly not Origin. It is not rugby league."

On Monday NRL head of football Graham Annesley said players could be charged with contrary conduct by the match review committee for staging.

Daly Cherry-Evans speaks to his team on the field during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin training session at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 08, 2021 in Townsville, Australia.
Daly Cherry-Evans speaks to his team on the field during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin training session at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 08, 2021 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Cherry-Evans also hopes minor infringements won't result in sin-bins and send-offs after 43 sin-bins and three send-offs in the three rounds that followed the crackdown's launch.

"If there's foul play any player will agree they're going to have to act on it, but as for those little accidental shots and the ones that brush past it'd be great to see it refereed as a penalty," he said.

"The product of Origin is amazing; 13 on 13, some of the best players going together, I don't want to have to come off talking about referees.

"I don't think that's fair to them; they've been under a lot of scrutiny this year, hopefully we can let the footy do the talking as players."

with AAP

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