The National Rugby League (NRL) has acknowledged a crucial refereeing error in the semifinal between the New Zealand Warriors and the Newcastle Knights, which the Knights won 12-10. According to the NRL, the Warriors should have been awarded a late penalty that could have changed the outcome of the match.
NRL officials confirmed on Monday that the incorrect decision was made by referee Ashley Klein. As a result, Klein is expected to be dropped from officiating in the upcoming preliminary finals.
The admission has sparked debate about the standard of refereeing in the NRL, particularly in high-stakes finals matches. The Warriors have not yet commented publicly on the NRL's admission.
The NRL is yet to announce who will replace Klein in the preliminary finals, which are scheduled for next weekend.
