Revealed: The RFL’s shortlist of officials to take charge of Grand Final

Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons are set to battle it out for the Super League title at Old Trafford in the Super League Grand Final.

The Warriors have beaten Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, St Helens and Bradford Bulls at Old Trafford.

Catalans Dragons have become only the sixth team to reach more than one Grand Finals alongside Wigan, Leeds, Warrington, St Helens and Bradford. They lost the 2021 Grand Final to St Helens as a brace of Kevin Naiqama tries gave the Saints the title.

They will be looking to right that wrong in 2023. The officials for that game were a major talking point as Bernard Guasch said that the club wouldn’t partake in another Grand Final with British officials.

Well they inevitably will with the RFL having a four man shortlist for the show piece.

This includes Chris Kendall, Liam Moore, Jack Smith and Ben Thaler. Thaler is the most experiences of the officials. Kendall officiated in Grand Finals in 2019 and 2020 and Liam Moore has officiated the last two Grand Finals.

Kendall was in charge of the Challenge Cup Final earlier this year.

This shortlist has been evident through the officials so far in the play-offs.

Play-off Week One:

Hull KR v Leigh Leopards
29th September, KO: 20:00
M Com: G. Kershaw
Referee: J. Smith
Reserve Referee: M. Griffiths
Touch Judge 1: M. Craven
Touch Judge 2: L. Rush
Video Referee: C. Kendall
Reserve Touch Judge: T. Gibbs
Time Keeper: D. Milburn

St Helens v Warrington Wolves
30th September, KO: 12:45
M Com: P. Smith
Referee: B. Thaler
Reserve Referee: A. Moore
Touch Judge 1: C. Worsley
Touch Judge 2: R. Thompson
Video Referee: L. Moore
Reserve Touch Judge: C. Charnock
Time Keeper: N. Hope

Semi-Finals:

Catalans Dragons v St Helens
06th October, KO: 20:00
M Com: V. Jenkins
Referee: C. Kendall
Reserve Referee: L. Refat
Touch Judge 1: W. Turley
Touch Judge 2: S. Vincent
Video Referee: J. Smith
Time Keeper: P. Jenkins

Wigan Warriors v Hull KR
07th October, KO: 12:45
M Com: K. Leyland
Referee: L. Moore
Reserve Referee: A. Moore
Touch Judge 1: J. Roberts
Touch Judge 2: R. Thompson
Video Referee: B. Thaler
Reserve Touch Judge: A. Belafonte
Time Keeper: P. Taberner