Daley recruits referees in search for a technical edge The Blues go through their paces yesterday in torrential rain at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah, in preparation for the Origin series opener on Wednesday night. LAURIE Daley is leaving nothing to chance as he looks to end NSW's seven-year losing streak in State of Origin competition. The Blues' coach yesterday called on two senior referees to run the team's penultimate training session before Game I kicks off on Wednesday night. NRL referees boss Daniel Andderson confirmed yesterday that Jared Maxwell and Chris James had taken charge of the Blues' session against Cronulla's under-20s team at Kogarah Oval but he was yet to hear anything from the Maroons' camp. He added that the Origin referees, Shayne Hayne and Ashley Klein, had been given no clear directive about how to handle the game. Both teams in the past had taken opposing views on the speed of the ruck. "If coaches of any NRL team or representative team ask for referees for sessions, we oblige," Anderson said. Today was probably a little bit of a technical session for Laurie and his coaching staff. The decision to incorporate two of the leading referees shows just how far Daley is prepared to go to end Queensland's dominance. The Blues were constantly at loggerheads with officials during last year's series. Game I was blighted by a contentious try to Maroons centre Greg Inglis, which was awarded by video referee Sean Hampstead despite NSW protests he had lost the ball in the lead-up. The incident helped trigger the demise of then referees bosses Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper and prompted Anderson to rework the guidelines so on field officials had to make a decision that could be overturned by the video referee only if evidence proved it. The move has reduced the weekly controversies in the NRL and Anderson said he was hoping Wednesday night's officials would turn in a "relevant but invisible" performance. That's what match officials want to be. And that's not just the referees, that's the whole group," Anderson said. All of them want to make a positive contribution to the game. The video review system has been well received but it has had a couple of hiccups as does any subjective decision-making system. The Blues trained in atrocious conditions yesterday as Sydney was hit by torrential rain. NSW captain Paul Gallen (knee) and backrower Luke Lewis (shoulder) both made it through the session unscathed after missing club games for Cronulla. Blues' enforcer Greg Bird moved quickly yesterday to allay any fears the Sharks duo could be underdone following their recent lack of game time. "Gal and Lewie are sweet," Bird said. Bird, who didn't respond when told Queensland halfback Johnathan Thurston was battling a virus, said he expected the intensity in the Blues camp to now click up a gear. "We're pretty cool and calm at the moment, to be honest," Bird said. I'm sure the fire will start burning in the belly in the next couple of days. Hooker Robbie Farah said yesterday's session was important as NSW was scheduled to have only one more training run -- a lighter captain's run at ANZ Stadium tomorrow -- before the game on Wednesday night. He said the session in the rain could stand the team in good stead as their preparation included training sessions in both types of conditions. "It could be like this on Wednesday night so it's a nice dress rehearsal for us today," Farah said.