Ben Elias has labelled Latrell Mitchell and Spencer Leniu's media bans in the lead up to State of Origin as "disappointing".
The Blues duo have committed to media blackouts heading into the series opener – a decision that has sparked some controversy.
On Monday, NSW coach Laurie Daley confirmed that Mitchell and Leniu's bans are self-imposed, with both players intending to avoid provoking conflict.
The former has notably refrained from speaking to the media as a Souths player this season.
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Elias, a former NSW hooker, believes the pair "need to be reminded" that fans want to hear from them in the lead-up to Origin.
"I find it disappointing," he told WWOS.
"They have an obligation to the people who want to hear and who make up State of Origin as spectators.
"The two players have their rights, they have their liberty and freedom, but in the same breath, I think they need to be reminded by the NRL that this game is for the people, and this is our showpiece game to the world, and if you take that colour feature away from State of Origin, I think it's the start of the finish."
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Earlier in the week, Elias added that banter between players is crucial to promoting the game.
"What the NRL should do is remind them of how this all works from an economics point of view and from a gamesmanship point of view," he said on 100% Footy.
"I think they need to be reminded of the golden rule. My attitude is whoever has the goal has the rule, and the goal is from the NRL, and if there's no banter between the players, it's disappointing for the bottom line at the end of the day.
"So I think they need to be educated a little bit on how this system works."