Refs Sutton, Klein retained for Origin III

Gerard Sutton and Ashley Klein have been retained as referees for State of Origin III at Suncorp Stadium.

The appointment means both officials will have overseen the entire Origin series, while Steve Chiddy and Ben Galea will man the bunker again.

Chiddy and Galea made the important call of awarding just the second penalty try in Origin history to NSW captain Boyd Cordner in game two.

The officiating had been a major talking point prior to the series opener after promises that the penalty crackdown in the NRL would continue in the representative fixtures.

However the referees had their quietest game of the year in game one with just five penalties before handing out 14 in the second match.

Referees boss Bernard Sutton said Sutton and Klein deserved to see out the series.

"Both referees have done a great job in the first two matches of the series so it stands to reason they will officiate in the final game," Sutton said.