Leading official Ashley Klein has been sensationally dropped from refereeing duties for this weekend’s NRL preliminary finals following a series of contentious late decisions during the New Zealand Warriors’ season-ending defeat.
The experienced whistle-blower will have no on-field role in either Grand Final qualifier as the governing body opts to overhaul its officiating team for week three of the post-season.
The decision comes in the wake of the Newcastle Knights’ 12-10 semi-final upset over the New Zealand Warriors at Eden Park, which concluded in ugly scenes after frustrated supporters hurled full beer cans and plastic bottles at match officials as they left the field.
The controversy centered around three late officiating decisions, including a missed escort penalty on Tyson Frizell under a high ball in the final minute.
The NRL has since confirmed that Klein made an error and that a penalty should have been awarded to the Warriors—a decision that would have given the home side a kick at goal to level the match.
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Ashley Klein set to be axed as NRL admit crucial error in Warriors’ finals exit
Former Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson condemned the crowd’s actions while defending the referee’s overall performance during the broadcast: “It leaves a bit of a sour taste in your mouth under what’s been an unbelievable night. The colors, the energy, the happiness, the celebration,
“But there’s just no need for it. It’s just embarrassing.”
“Ashley Klein has probably refereed the best game of rugby league I have seen in a long time tonight. He didn’t make the game about him,
“He let the players come and play and essentially they dictated the outcome.”
Warriors Chief Executive Cameron George confirmed the club formally reached out to the NRL seeking clarification over the late rulings: “It was disappointing because a warning was sent out to the clubs about escorts this week; it was extremely obvious that’s what occurred.”
“Then to have no review or anything done by the referee, it was disappointing. We have to move on.”
The NRL Integrity Unit continues to review CCTV footage from Eden Park alongside stadium management to identify fans involved in the missile-throwing incident.
