A fitness fanatic who had served in the NSW Police Tactical Response Group, Hall of Fame referee Bill Harrigan was famous for his ability to work with players to let the game flow - and for taking no nonsense from the 26 men under his control.
Harrigan controlled a record 10 grand finals, including the epic 1989 decider between Canberra and Balmain, as well as 21 State of Origin matches between 1991 and 2003.
Often blowing less than five penalties in Origin games and letting the action flow to produce a spectacular contest, Harrigan had a feel for the game like few other referees.
Among a cavalcade of big moments on the Origin stage was the opening game of the 2000 series in Sydney when Harrigan found himself toe to toe with an angry Gorden Tallis in an exchange that typified the passion that makes the annual showdown between NSW and Queensland so special.
In this extract from '40 Years of State of Origin: The Magic. The Moments. The Memories', written by NRL.com senior journalist Martin Lenehan, Harrigan recalls the blow-up with Tallis and how fellow Hall of Famer Wayne Bennett helped them bury the hatchet.
Bill and Gordie and tea and scones
"It was drilled into the players in matches I was reffing - don't backchat this bloke, there's no point arguing with him," Harrigan said.
With the opening game of the 2000 series at Stadium Australia on a knife's edge, Harrigan awarded the Blues a try which Maroons enforcer Gorden Tallis was convinced had come after not one but two knock-ons.
A fatigued and frustrated Tallis turned the Harrigan tip sheet into confetti and vented his fury.
"It was drilled into the players in matches I was reffing - don't backchat this bloke, there's no point arguing with him.
"Gordie is chasing me all the way down the paddock yelling 'you've had a shocker, you've just missed two knock-ons', and a few other insults.
"Ryan Girdler scored in the corner and I awarded the try and turned around and, true to his name, the Raging Bull unleashed. I reckon he knew he was going to the bin so he wanted to make it worthwhile and he called me a cheat.
Match Highlights: Blues v Maroons
"There's no way I was wearing that so I sent him off.
"He came into the dressing room after the game and apologised. He shook my hand and said, 'It was uncalled for an unacceptable and I'm sorry - but you still missed a knock-on.
"We had a couple more run-ins over the next couple of years and then Wayne Bennett arranged a meeting so we could clear the air. Gordie came to my house and had tea and my scones with my mum and dad, and then they left us and we sorted stuff out and after that we got on and we've been mates ever since."
