Klein dumped as NRL appoint new grand-final referee after controversial ‘penalty-athon’

Grant Atkins looks to have usurped Ashley Klein as the NRL’s No.1 official after being handed control of the grand final for the first time in his refereeing career.

Atkins, who has regularly refereed at NRL level for over a decade, will be the man in the middle for Sunday’s decider between Melbourne and Brisbane, League Central announced on Tuesday.

Chris Sutton and David Munro have been appointed as touch judges, while Klein will be in charge of the bunker.

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