Harrigan almost blows Origin recall

Top referee Bill Harrigan almost blew the whistle on his chances of a second State of Origin gig with a woeful display in NRL competition at the weekend.
At Parramatta Stadium, Harrigan let his whistle to the talking as he repeatedly pinged both the Eels and the St George/Illawarra Dragons for being inside the 10 metres.
In a match never allowed to get out of first gear, the Eels won a torrid ancounter 124 to 122. Both teams scored no tries each.
The referee's constant intervention has been blamed on his seeing eye dog, Jess.
The jet-black Jess, Harrigan's constant companion for the past six years, normally sticks religiously to her master's left side as he oversees major club and interstate games. Jess, a big favourite with the kiddies whenever she trots on, has also helped officiate at Test level on no less than two occasions.
Harrigan's poor display at last week's Origin opening at Stadium Gosper could not be blamed on Jess, who stuck close by her master throughout that encounter.
Harrigan missed two blatant Blues knock-ons that handed NSW an underserved win over a much-superior Maroons outfit.
But the game's top observers put those mistakes down to the fact that Harrigan, who sweats profusely, was combing his damp hair at the time to ensure the beautiful long strands did not get in his eyes and spoil his appearance.
But the weekend's blunders came about solely because of walkabout Jess.
For some inexplicable reason, the normally well-trained guide dog constantly wandered in front of her master and towards the attacking players.
Although technically blind, Harrigan can see light and shadow and some vague movements out of his left eye.
It is believed that Harrigan repeatedly mistook Jess's barely visible form for a defending player breaking the line early on the play- the-ball.
It is understood that the game's 264 penalties in all – just under half of which were converted – is a world record for any football code.
Meanwhile, Harrigan has steadfastedly refused to concede that he made any errors in either the weekend game or last week's Origin opener.
"I've watched the vidoes of both games hundreds and hundreds of times and I still can't see where I did anything wrong," he said.

Meanwhile, bustling Maroons forward Gorden Tallis has apologised to Harrigan for an outburst that saw him sent off just under 10 minutes from fulltime last Wednesday night.
"I didn't call him a fucking cheat as was reported in the media," Tallis admitted yesterday. "What I did say to him was: 'Are you fucking blind – or what!'
"In light of Harrigan's disability it wasn't a very nice thing to say and I've gone up to Bill and apologised unreservedly.
"I just hope he knew it was me."