Arabic version: كلين على وشك الغياب عن نهائيي NRL التمهيديين

According to ABC News, NRL referee Ashley Klein is reportedly set to lose his place in this weekend’s preliminary final matches after the competition acknowledged the Warriors were wrongly denied a late penalty in their semifinal loss to Newcastle.

NRL officials confirmed on Monday that the Warriors should have received a penalty for an escort infringement by Knights forward Tyson Frizell with one minute remaining in Sunday’s 12-10 match at Eden Park. The Warriors could have attempted a penalty goal from just to the side of the posts to level the score at 12-12 and force extra time.

The infringement was missed on the field, and the bunker could not review it despite an injury stoppage soon after. An NRL review supported two other disputed bunker decisions: official Chris Butler’s ruling that Warriors centre Ali Leiataua got a thumb to the ball before it hit the ground, and the decision to uphold an on-field strip call against Te Maire Martin.

AAP understands Klein will pay for the missed call by being omitted from the preliminary finals, with Grant Atkins or Gerard Sutton likely to be selected. Klein has officiated every match in the past five State of Origin series and two of the past four grand finals. The NRL also threatened bans for spectators who threw bottles and rubbish at Klein as he left the field on Sunday night.