The NRL has demoted referee Adam Gee for this weekend’s finals, with the grand closing whistle-blower a shock omission from crew lists on Tuesday.
Gee officiated the 2023 grand closing between Penrith and Brisbane however was not given a sport to manage on the opening week of the finals with Ashley Klein, Gerard Sutton, Todd Smith and Grant Atkins chosen.
Gee, who was not named within the NRL Bunker for any of the clashes both, has been chosen to be the standby referee for Penrith v Roosters in addition to Saturday’s conflict in Townsville.
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“We solely have 4 video games this week, and match officers have been chosen on kind,” NRL head of soccer Graham Annesley stated.
“Todd has earned his spot primarily based on actually stable performances all through the season.
“We’re lucky to now have extra referees able to controlling finals than we have now video games obtainable.
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“Competitors for positions inevitably drives improved efficiency and consistency.”
Annesley didn’t rule out naming Gee for the rest of the NRL finals sequence, after he officiated video games each week throughout final 12 months’s sequence and the eventual decider, which Penrith snatched within the closing seconds.