NRL Referee Ashley Klein to be Axed After Controversial Semifinal Ending

NRL referee Ashley Klein is reportedly set to be sidelined from this weekend's preliminary final matches following a controversial ending to Sunday's semifinal between the Knights and Warriors.

NRL officials confirmed on Monday the Warriors should have been awarded a penalty with a minute left in Sunday's Eden Park thriller, and the chance to send the match to extra time, for an escort infringement by the Knights' Tyson Frizell.

Controversial Call Sparks Outrage

The NRL is reportedly set to axe top referee Ashley Klein for the preliminary finals after admitting the Warriors were wrongly denied a crucial late penalty in their 12-10 semifinal loss to Newcastle.

NRL officials today confirmed the Warriors should have been awarded a penalty for an escort infringement by the Knights' Tyson Frizell with a minute left in yesterday's Eden Park thriller.

Had the penalty been awarded, the Warriors would have had the chance to level at 12-12 via a penalty goal from just to the side of the posts and send the match to extra time.

But the call was instead missed on the field, with the bunker unable to review the play, despite a stoppage for an injury soon afterwards.

NRL Review Backs Bunker on Other Calls

A comprehensive NRL review of Newcastle's 12-10 semifinal did, however, back the bunker over two other contentious calls.

First, it was deemed that bunker official Chris Butler was right to rule that Warriors centre Ali Leiataua got a thumb to a ball before it went to ground late in the match.

The NRL also supported the bunker's decision to stick with the on-field call of a strip against Warrior Te Maire Martin.

Warriors Coach Criticizes Referee

"I thought they were trying to find ways to take it off us," Warriors coach Andrew Webster said after the game.

"The last one, two points would have drawn the game, he is going across Leka, pretending to try and catch the ball which they've told us you can't do."

Klein to Miss Preliminary Finals

AAP understands Klein will pay for the error by losing his spot in the preliminary finals, with Grant Atkins or Gerard Sutton likely to be called up.

Klein has overseen every game of the past five State of Origin series and two of the last four grand finals.

He had been expected to referee last year's decider, before losing out to Atkins following 18 penalties in a Melbourne-Cronulla preliminary final.

Fan Behavior Condemned

Meanwhile, the NRL have threatened bans for fans who threw projectiles at Klein as he walked off Eden Park on Sunday night.

Vision showed a mass of bottles and rubbish being thrown at the long-time official, with Warriors great Shaun Johnson labelling the fans' behaviour "embarrassing".