The article argues against standing down NRL referee Ashley Klein from State of Origin II due to a past gambling problem, noting there is no evidence he has broken any NRL betting rules or manipulated matches. It suggests the reaction is a witch hunt and that Klein should only be judged on actual rule violations, not his personal history. The piece also highlights that current NRL rules do not prohibit betting on sports outside rugby league.
Why should Ashley Klein be stood down from refereeing State of Origin II when there is no evidence the NRL ’s top referee has done anything wrong, other than having a past gambling problem?
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As it says in the Bible, let he without sin cast the first stone. But judging by the reaction so far, there are plenty of people reaching for rocks from inside their glass houses. I’ll admit my initial reaction to last Friday’s breaking news was probably the same as many who have flooded social media over the past few days.
But the longer I’ve sat back and digested the facts, the more I’ve come to the conclusion this is just developing into a witch hunt. There is no suggestion he ever manipulated a match. If any of those facts change, the conversation changes with them. But based on everything we know as of today, Klein should only be judged for having a past gambling problem, not for breaking the NRL’s betting rules.
The only exception to stand him down would be if the NRL genuinely believed the scrutiny of recent days had affected Klein’s mental wellbeing _ to the point it could impact his performance on Wednesday night.
‘Write how he won it’: Benji’s emphatic Luai defence... and huge admissionYet much of the reaction about Klein’s gambling history has blurred the line between what people think the rules should be _ and what the rules actually are. As it stands, the NRL rules does not prohibit players, coaches, referees or officials betting on sports outside rugby league.
If the NRL wants to tighten those rules in the future, that’s fine by me, because there is a legitimate argument for doing that. Let’s also take into account that the game first became aware of Klein’s situation seven years ago when he was investigated by the NRL. He also reportedly placed himself on the BetStop register some time back, closed his betting accounts, and has continued refereeing without any suggestion of wrongdoing.
When NRL legends like Nathan Hindmarsh and Steve Price opened up about gambling problems connected to their playing careers, did anyone suddenly look back and retrospectively question their integrity? When Hindmarsh revealed he had lost more than $200,000 on poker machines, the response was sympathy. When Price described gambling as a “cancer” on society after battling his own addiction, the response was understanding.
More recently, former Raider Luke Bateman revealed he lost around $500,000 gambling during his career _ and claimed gambling problems were widespread among players. Gambling addiction is a serious issue that affects people from every walk of life. Why should a referee be treated differently? If Klein had gambled on rugby league or breached the game’s rules, the NRL would have no choice but to act.
And if he has genuinely confronted those issues, taken steps to address them and moved forward with his life, surely he deserves the same understanding and compassion that others in the game have received before him. MADGE’S FIGHT TO PROVE HE HASN’T LOST BRONCOS DRESSING ROOM? He has 10 games to prove he hasn’t lost the Broncos dressing room.
When Brisbane hired Maguire, they knew exactly what they were getting given how his time at both South Sydney and Wests Tigers ended so badly. And while he was widely backed as the man capable of delivering immediate success , the fear from the get-go related to his previous struggles to maintain relationships with his players. If the players still believe in him, they’ll fight to save his reputation.
Broncos chief executive Dave Donaghy attempted to shut down speculation over the weekend, declaring to The Courier Mail that Maguire’s future was “absolutely” secure. Just weeks before Walters was moved on, Donaghy publicly backed him as coach. And what we saw against Souths gave the impression the Broncos could be heading for more coaching carnage. Yes, the Rabbitohs were always going to be emotionally charged given the wonderful pre-match scenes surrounding Jai Arrow.
But if the Broncos couldn’t find enough desperation with their season hanging by a thread, what exactly is going to spark them over the final 10 rounds? And the concern for Maguire’s bosses is that player unrest, if it does exist, rarely stays hidden for long. The decision by Payne Haas to move on was the first warning shot fired before the season even kicked off.
Adam Reynolds being run down by Lachie Hubner was a reminder that age catches up with every player, even the greats. Rabbitohs fans would remember Reynolds producing one of the try-saving tackles of the 2013 season when he chased down Chris Sandow from behind. Reynolds was clearly carrying a hamstring issue, despite suggestions it was merely cramp. WILL CODY PLAY ON IN 2027?
With the 36-year-old yet to decide whether he’ll play on in 2027, this performance only strengthened the argument that another season may not be beyond him. But if Walker can stay fit and continue producing football like he did against Brisbane, it’s hard to imagine the Rabbitohs not wanting to keep him around for another season.
The 32-year-old continues to be one of the most underrated playmakers in the NRL, and his combination with young Isaiyah Katoa only gets stronger every time you see them play together. Which is why the prospect of moving Nikorima on to make way for the slightly older George Williams makes little sense. RAIDERS NOT WRONG LETTING FOGARTY GO Canberra’s decision to let Jamal Fogarty leave is back under the microscope after the Raiders’ disappointing loss to an injury-ravaged Parramatta.
The Raiders have clearly lacked direction and game management this season. Yet Fogarty’s leadership, kicking game and calm head under pressure have been worth their weight in gold to Manly, who have developed into a genuine top four contender under Kieran Foran. But despite the criticism now coming Canberra’s way, I still believe the Raiders made the right call letting Fogarty go.
What many are overlooking is that Canberra didn’t simply shove Fogarty out the door like the Bulldogs did with Toby Sexton. But Fogarty, who turns 33 later this year, received a more lucrative three-year offer from Manly. But recruitment decisions can’t be based solely on what happens over the next 12 months. It’s also worth remembering that some of Fogarty’s decision-making in big moments last year suggested a fresh start may have been the best outcome for both parties.
A month ago they had lost three of their previous four games and plenty were starting to question Cronulla’s top eight credentials. Now, after four straight wins, they have stormed back into the top-four conversation following their thrilling victory over the Warriors. The defining moment came when Will Kennedy somehow managed to hold onto the ball after charging down Chanel Harris-Tavita’s field goal attempt.
What has impressed equally is how Craig Fitzgibbon has been able to keep the Sharks believing despite losing two of their most important players in Nicho Hynes and Blayke Brailey. Yet the Sharks have gone to the next level. You’ve got to love how Jarome Luai and Benji Marshall can spin a yarn to suit the occasion.
Just a week after describing parts of the Tigers’ performance as “brain dead” following the 68-0 demolition by Penrith, Benji was on the front foot demanding more respect for Jarome after the Tigers’To be fair, Luai has copped plenty since committing to PNG _ and his hat-trick proved the perfect opportunity to give the ‘shush message’ to his critics. But before we start declaring the Tigers are officially back, it’s hard to ignore this is still a team that was on the receiving end of one of the biggest beatings in recent memory only eight days earlier _ when they had lost four of their previous five games.
So while Sunday’s win was terrific in what it will be the last game at Leichhardt for 18 months, they need to back it up against the Dolphins and Knights over the next fortnight before I’ll jump back on the bandwagon. Andrew Webster had every right to be frustrated by the shot-clock controversy in the Warriors’ loss. The bigger issue was Chanel Harris-Tavita being unable to clearly see the countdown clock because of the stadium’s advertising setup. Isn’t that a question for venue management, instead of the referee?
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The NRL needs to stand down Ashley Klein from Origin. This is whyPlus, the selection of Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase in the NSW side following the withdrawal of Bulldogs pair Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz has left his club fuming.
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Klein’s problem gambling spiralled on NRL’s watchRugby league’s top referee continued to gamble even as the NRL began monitoring his betting in 2019, accruing substantial losses that eventually prompted him to self-exclude.
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The NRL needs to stand down Ashley Klein from OriginPlus, the selection of Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase in the NSW side following the withdrawal of Bulldogs pair Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz has left his club fuming.
Read more »
Klein’s problem gambling spiralled on NRL’s watchRugby league’s top referee continued to gamble even as the NRL began monitoring his betting in 2019, accruing substantial losses that eventually prompted him to self-exclude.
Read more »