NRL referee Ashley Klein has reportedly been dropped from this weekend’s preliminary finals after the league acknowledged it should have awarded a crucial penalty to the New Zealand Warriors in their 12-10 semifinal loss to the Newcastle Knights at Eden Park.
According to a report by 1News, the disputed decision came in the final minute when Newcastle’s Tyson Frizell was not penalised for an alleged escort involving Warriors player Leka Halasima as he attempted to contest a high ball.
The NRL has since confirmed that the Warriors should have received a penalty. Had it been awarded, the Warriors would have had an opportunity to kick a penalty goal and potentially send the match into extra time.
The Warriors contacted the NRL on Monday to seek clarification on several contentious decisions from the match, including the Frizell incident.
Klein is not expected to officiate either of the two preliminary finals this weekend, although reports say he remains in contention for the grand final, as reported by 1News.
The controversy has also prompted an investigation into spectator behaviour at Eden Park. Bottles, cups and other rubbish were thrown towards Klein and other match officials as they left the field under security escort after the Warriors’ defeat. The NRL has launched an investigation into potential breaches of its spectator code of conduct, as reported by 1News.
Warriors great Shaun Johnson criticised the reaction from some supporters, describing it as "embarrassing" and saying there was “just no need for it”.
"Ashley Klein has probably refereed the best game of rugby league I have seen in a long time tonight,” Johnson said, as 1News has quoted.
"He didn't make the game about him. He let the players come and play and they dictated the outcome," as quoted by 1News.
The NRL has also backed two other contentious decisions from the match, including a bunker ruling involving Warriors centre Ali Leiataua and a strip penalty against Te Maire Martin.
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