It was one bad call, but the NRL had no option other than to drop Klein. Here’s why
- Posted on September 22, 2026
- By The Sydney Morning Herald
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
The NRL made an unavoidable decision to remove Ashley Klein from preliminary finals duties following a critical officiating error that directly influenced the match outcome. When a referee's mistake becomes pivotal to the final result, league authorities face limited alternatives but to make roster changes. This move underscores the high standards expected in elite rugby league competition and the importance of consistent, accurate decision-making during crucial playoff matches.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
It was one bad call, but the NRL had no option other than to drop Klein. Here’s why
The fact Ashley Klein’s decision had a direct impact on the final result meant he was always going to be axed for this weekend’s preliminary finals.
