Blunders by Ashley Klein during the Storm-Roosters semi-final have put the spotlight on officiating at a crucial juncture
and in particular its football department will be under immense pressure this week after a series of officiating bungles blighted Friday night’s semi-final between the Storm and Roosters.
Two other incidents also stood out where Klein failed to take sufficient action. Early in the first half, Victor Radley hit a player flush in the head, an act that has consistently resulted in a sin bin, but merely elicited a report this time around. Then in the final two minutes with the Storm trailing by one and on the attack, Harry Grant was hit across the nose directly in front of Klein but the referee and then the Bunker refused to intervene.
Klein has been the top official in the game over the last two seasons. He has been named to officiate the last six State of Origins and was in charge of last year’s grand final. He refereed the World Cup final at the end of last year and was almost certain to referee this year’s NRL decider. But it is unlikely the NRL would appoint Klein to next week’s preliminary final after two such obvious – and costly – mistakes.
The other options are the seven-time grand final referee Gerard Sutton or Grant Atkins but given both were overlooked for the semi-finals, it could be assumed they are both behind Gee in the pecking order.Photograph: Aaron Gillions/AAP
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