An allegation from New South Wales hooker Keeley Davis of eye gouging by a Queensland player in Thursday’s first Women’s State of Origin game has been dropped.
Davis made a complaint to referee Belinda Sharpe during the first half of game one in the series that the Blues went on to win 32-12. The claim was made after the NSW hooker took two consecutive tackles, on either side of a quick tap for an unrelated penalty, but got back to her feet touching her face.
The match continued and the Blues scored their second try moments later, after which Davis and captain Isabelle Kelly approached Sharpe to report the incident.
The referee placed the matter on report, but match review officials could not find evidence of an eye gouge upon reviewing vision of the incident.
The NRL asked Davis on Thursday morning whether she wanted to progress with a formal complaint but she declined.
After the match on Thursday, Davis remained adamant she had felt an eye gouge.
“I’ve never felt it in a game. I felt an eye gouge,” Davis told AAP. “It’s the Origin arena, things happen. There’s a difference when it’s incidental [rather] than on purpose.”
Blues coach John Strange and Kelly reiterated on Thursday evening Davis’ belief she had been eye gouged.
“She wasn’t sure who, as a couple were in the tackle, so she told the ref, they put it on report,” Strange said.
NSW Rugby League chief executive David Trodden provided a statement on Friday.
“Arising from the match last night were a number of matters which went on report, including an allegation of eye gouging,” he said.
“We note that no charges have been laid. Our focus is now on preparation for game two in Sydney in a fortnight. We will make no further comment on the matter.”
Davis went on to play an important role in a runaway Blues victory, and Kelly said the hooker was able to put the matter aside and perform.
“I think if you know Keeley, you know that’s not going to rattle her,” she said.
Strange, alongside Kelly in the post-match press conference, tried to make light of the situation. He said Davis had experienced rough treatment before, including claiming to teammates that she was bitten in last year’s Origin series.
Kelly said she gave instructions to Davis following claims of that incident to tell her if anything outside the rules happens to her.
“She’s a professional Keels, she’s been great,” Kelly said. “I thought she was great tonight as well.”
The Blues take a 1-0 lead in the women’s Origin series into a pair of games on home turf starting with a clash at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on 15 May.
