Ashley Klein to referee State of Origin Series opener in Sydney

The referee for next week’s State of Origin series opener at Accor Stadium in Sydney has been named.

Ashley Klein will referee next Wednesday night’s State of Origin series opener in Sydney.

Klein, who will control his ninth Origin match, will be assisted by touch judges Phil Henderson and David Munro, and ”Bunker” official Grant Atkins.

“Ashley has officiated extremely well throughout the 2022 premiership and deserves his place in the first Origin match,” NRL head of football Graham Annesley said.

“Origin is one of the pinnacle appointments in our game and all of the officials nominated should be proud of this achievement.”

Ashley Klein will referee next week’s State of Origin opener. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

NRL referees coach Jared Maxwell said it had been a “very difficult decision” in choosing Klein over a host of other strong contenders.

“This was certainly not a decision between one or two officials,” Maxwell said.

“This was a decision between four or five officials, and that’s an extremely positive position to be in.

“Ash’s consistency across the NRL premiership made him a deserved appointment for Origin.”

The standby referee is Gerard Sutton.

Originally published as Ashley Klein to referee State of Origin Series opener in Sydney