State of Origin 2023: Ashley Klein appointment hailed by Andrew Johns
2 min read
Less than a week after Ashley Klein retained his mantle as State of Origin referee, the whistleblower has scored another win.
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns has backed the decision to again appoint Klein the referee for the Origin opener, after he was recalled at the expense of Gerard Sutton in 2022.
« Good decision, » Johns said on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth.
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« I think he’s in really good form. I like the way he refs: low penalty count, manages the game, he has a feel for the game.
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« Good appointment. »
Johns shifted attention to the Eels’ victory over the Rabbitohs last Friday night, which saw Parramatta score a 36-16 win at Allianz Stadium.
Only seven penalties were awarded and the Eels were pinged just once, when front-rower Wiremu Greig was done for lying in the ruck.
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« That was the the best game I’ve seen officiated, » Johns said.
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« At half-time there were no six-to-goes and (only) three penalties. And it showed; the game flowed, the game was open, there was real fatigue in the middle of the field, and then late in the game because of limited stoppages, the game really opened up.
« I like the way he officiates. »
In the 2022 Origin series, won by Queensland in a decider, Klein blew eight penalties in game one, 13 in game two and seven in the third match.
Klein will officiate his 12th Origin game when New South Wales and Queensland square off at Adelaide Oval next Wednesday night.
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