Ashley Klein has been appointed as the NRL's grand final referee as head office heeded Penrith coach Ivan Cleary's call and
escort service goa overlooked Chris Butler for officiating duties.
Klein will take charge of Sunday's decider between the Panthers and Melbourne in what represents his third NRL grand final appointment.
But Butler was snubbed in the aftermath of Penrith's preliminary final win over Cronulla.Butler was the video referee who incorrectly took a try off the Panthers for an obstruction call and earned the ire of Cleary.
The Penrith coach said the appointment of a grand final bunker official was the biggest the NRL's football department could make this year.
Butler was not included in a list of official released by the NRL on Tuesday with Grant Atkins named as the video referee.
Congratulations to Ashley Klein who has been named as the referee of
Sunday's NRL Grand Final! #NRLGF pic.twitter.com/yEtYLAgkKO
- NRL (@NRL) October 1, 2024"Ashley has been excellent in the finals series and comes with enormous experience in big games," said NRL head of match officials Jared Maxwell.
"He refereed in all three State of Origins this year, and has shown the required consistency and aptitude throughout 2024.
"Only very recently, Ashley celebrated his 400th game as an NRL referee."He has also refereed in 28 finals matches and 17 State of Origins. That experience will be invaluable in a premiership decider."
David Munro and Chris Sutton will be Klein's touch judges.Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, meanwhile, will referee the NRLW grand final between the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla.