LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The NRL has decided to drop referee Ashley Klein from future matches following criticism of his performance in the Melbourne Storm's semi-final victory over the Sydney Roosters.
During the game, Klein missed a knock-on by Melbourne hooker Harry Grant, which allowed the Storm to score a crucial try shortly after.
Additionally, Klein failed to penalise Roosters halfback Sam Walker for a high tackle on Grant, potentially denying the Storm a game-winning penalty goal.
Despite these errors, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has defended Klein and instead criticized the culture of blaming referees for defeats.
Abdo believes that the blame culture within the sport is unfair and detrimental to the referees' confidence and performance.
The decision to drop Klein is seen as a response to the public outcry and an attempt to address the criticism surrounding the referee's performance.
It remains to be seen who will replace Klein in future NRL matches.