Photo shows Queensland Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans and game one referee Ashley Klein sharing a laugh

A photo of Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans having a laugh with Origin I referee Ashley Klein inside an empty 4 Pines Park has raised eyebrows in Blues camp.

This masthead snapped an image of the Queensland captain and the game’s leading whistleblower after a Manly training session a couple of weeks ago.

It is not uncommon for referees to assist with NRL clubs’ opposed training sessions. They provide guidance on rule interpretations and how the game is officiated. Referees Gerard Sutton and Peter Gough have overseen two NSW Origin team sessions this week.

However, it is rare for a whistleblower and a player to spend nearly 20 minutes deep in conversation, as Cherry-Evans and Klein did that day.

Cherry-Evans would not comment when contacted during the week. Klein laughed and said they were only discussing their children.

NSW coach Laurie Daley paused, smiled and said: “Ash is a professional, and I’m sure on Wednesday night he’ll do a great job.”

Benny Elias, who was inducted into the NSWRL Hall of Fame on Monday, did not like the look of the Maroons skipper and the Origin I referee looking so chummy, especially with the Blues about to enter enemy territory for game one in Brisbane on Wednesday night.

“The mind shudders to think what the hell those two were talking about,” Elias said. “Although it is that time of year again when Queensland start buttering up the referees.”