NRL: Daley in verbal blue about rulings over ruck

Laurie Daley wants to avoid Origin wrestle-fest. Photo / Getty Images

The State of Origin mind games have begun.

New South Wales coach Laurie Daley has called on the referees to police the ruck during tonight's opener at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, after accusing Queensland of turning last year's series into a dour wrestle-fest.

Daley used his match-eve media conference to send a pointed message to whistleblowers Matt Cecchin and Gerard Sutton, describing last year's series as one of the slowest and most boring he'd seen.

Queensland have an ageing side and are minus attacking weapons Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis, prompting fears from Daley they will attempt to lie all over the ruck again.

He claimed 2016 series referees Ben Cummins and Sutton allowed Queensland to get away with murder in the play-the-ball and were allowed to turn all three games into boring slogs with little expansive play.

"[Queensland] tried to slow it down last year," Daley said before the side's captain's run yesterday. "We're expecting the same this year. They tried to dominate the ruck - we didn't have much room to move last year. The games were slow last year compared to usual Origin games. I hope it's different this year.

"You just want them to referee the same as they do in the NRL. That's all we've asked."

It will be up to rookie captain Boyd Cordner to ensure his side get the rub of the green with the officials as he matches wits with veteran Queensland skipper Cameron Smith, known for his mastery of managing referees.

NSW have traditionally been on the wrong end of the penalty count at Suncorp Stadium - winning just seven of 52 on the penalty front there since Origin's inception in 1980.

"Boyd will bring his own style. He doesn't say a hell of a lot but, when he does, people listen and take it on board," Daley said.

"He'll be a bit nervous, I suppose, but he's smart enough and intelligent enough to know he needs to be aware of what's going on on the field. I'm sure if he needs to have input into any of the decisions then he will."

The Blues will head into match one in the unfamiliar position of being fancied by the bookies.

With Queensland depleted by injuries to Thurston, Inglis and Matt Scott, the Blues will start as $1.87 favourites.

Daley refused to embrace his side's favouritism, saying Queensland thrived when their backs were against the wall.

- AAP