Klein snubbed for grand final day as Gee takes whistle

Joel Gould |

Adam Gee has been given the thumbs-up to referee his second NRL grand final.
Adam Gee has been given the thumbs-up to referee his second NRL grand final.

Referee Ashley Klein will have no role to play at the NRL grand final after several controversial moments in the past months, with Adam Gee given the nod to referee his second decider.

Klein, who refereed the 2018, 2022 and 2024 grand finals, will also not be in the Bunker for the season finale on Sunday between Sydney Roosters and Newcastle.

Bunker duties have been handed to Chris Butler, while Tyson Brough will touch-judge his first grand final along with Phil Henderson.

Referee Ashley Klein
Referee Ashley Klein won’t have any official involvement with this weekend’s NRL grand final. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

Gee took charge of the 2023 grand final, one of the best of the modern era in what was a cracking spectacle.

Klein was demoted from on-field duties after the Warriors versus Knights elimination semi-final in Auckland, won 12-10 by the Knights. The NRL admitted he got a crucial late call wrong when a penalty was not blown for an escort by Newcastle forward Tyson Frizell, which prevented Warriors wrecking ball Leka Halasima from fairly contesting a bomb.

The denied penalty-goal attempt, next to the posts, also prevented the Warriors from having a shot at goal to take the match into golden point.

There were also five successful captain’s challenges in the match.

Klein was in the Bunker for the Roosters’ 36-20 preliminary final win over the Dolphins, where two awarded tries, confirmed by the Bunker, created much debate.

Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako put the ball down in the corner and commentators were at odds over whether it had simultaneously brushed the touch-in-goal line. 

More drama followed when Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase appeared to put his foot on the touch line in the lead-up to a Robert Toia try, although it was deemed there was insufficient evidence to overturn the try awarded on the field.

Queensland's Cameron Munster remonstrates with Ashley Klein
Queensland’s Cameron Munster remonstrates with Ashley Klein in Game 3 of the 2026 Origin series. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

Klein was this year also involved in a controversy in the State of Origin decider in Brisbane.

The NRL admitted after the match that NSW winger Jack Bostock had knocked-on in the lead-up to a Bradman Best try in the 57th minute, which gave the Blues a 24-8 lead.

The Bunker backed the on-field ruling.

AAP