Queensland great Nate Myles and former NSW playmaker Greg Alexander have had conflicting views over the 'gentlemen's agreement' proposed by Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans over recent laying down tactics in the NRL to milk penalties.
Myles told Fox League's NRL 360 that the Maroons would not stick to their skipper's plea when it comes to the Origin opener in Townsville.
"S**t no there is no gentlemenโs agreement in Origin," Myles said.
"You play for keeps."
"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."
On the other hand, NSW advisor Greg Alexander said that laying down tactics are a bad look for the game.
"Youโve got to get up," Alexander 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."
"They're a stain on the game." Brandy slams players for taking dives in the NRL recently โ
Tune into #NRL360 on Ch 502 or stream on @kayosports pic.twitter.com/LRtlSp8zPG
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) June 8, 2021
Former Parramatta Eels halfback and NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent also agreed with Alexander's stance, stating that penalties should apply for players choosing to overreact to a high hit trying to draw a penalty.
"For years rugby league people have laughed at soccer for the theatrical diving and we always said how ridiculous it looked in soccer," Kent said..
"I think across the game there needs to be a movement here to say, โyou know what? We are getting rid of it guysโ. Or if a guy does lay down then they need to go off for 10 minutes for a HIA."
The proposed 'gentlemen's agreement' by Cherry-Evans comes after the NRL issued a zero-tolerance approach to Blues and Maroons players, looking to crack down on high shots ahead of the origin opener.
Breaking: NRL issues warning to NSW and Queensland players saying there will be zero tolerance on high shots in Origin I.
Referee Gerard Sutton instructed to sin bin players for acts of foul play.
There will be no leniency. @travismeyn
— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) June 7, 2021
Cherry-Evans is confident that the players will play hard, but doesn't want laying down tactics happening as it heaps unwanted pressure on the umpires, and takes away from the excitement of Origin.
"The product of Origin is amazing; 13 on 13, some of the best players going together, I donโt want to have to come off talking about referees," Cherry Evans said, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
"I donโt think thatโs fair to them; theyโve been under a lot of scrutiny this year, hopefully we can let the footy do the talking as players."
"If thereโs foul play any player will agree theyโre going to have to act on it, but as for those little accidental shots and the ones that brush past itโd be great to see it refereed as a penalty."
The Origin opener kicks off tonight at 8:10pm AEST at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.