NRL grand final: League lashes out at suggestions that referee favours Panthers

NRL football boss Graham Annesley is seething at suggestions that referee Andrew Gee will favour the defending premiers in the biggest game of the season.

(L-R) Adam Gee and Adam Reynolds.

NRL football boss Graham Annesley has launched a stinging attack on critics of grand-final referee Adam Gee amid fears an alleged Penrith bias could rob Brisbane in Sunday night’s NRL decider.

Gee will celebrate the biggest moment of his officiating career when the 236-game veteran takes charge of the Broncos-Panthers grand final at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

The 38-year-old’s baptism comes as “alarming” statistics emerged that show Penrith have won a staggering 16 of 17 games under Gee’s refereeing over the past three years for a near-perfect 94 per cent strike rate.

Penrith’s overall winning record under Gee since he began in the NRL is 66 per cent, while Brisbane have won just 15 of 31 games with the 2023 grand-final referee in charge for a dismal 48 per cent success rate.

Those numbers have fuelled fears Penrith have a crucial 18th man in their corner on Sunday night, but Annesley is seething at suggestions Gee will favour the defending premiers in the biggest game of the season.

Adam Gee talks to Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds. Picture: NRL Images

“Any inference that any club is favoured by any particular referee is offensive and ridiculous,” said Annesley, himself a former long-serving referee in the Winfield Cup.

Broncos legend Gorden Tallis and former Bulldogs premiership winner Braith Anasta have been left stunned by Penrith’s record under Gee, who edged out veteran Gerard Sutton to clinch his grand-final debut.

Anasta called for the Broncos to seek out a meeting with referee boss Jared Maxwell, while Tallis concedes Penrith’s dominance under Gee could shatter Brisbane’s dreams of their first premiership since 2006.

“That’s alarming,” Fox analyst Tallis said of Penrith’s win percentage under Gee since 2020.

“Penrith are a great side, they have been the best side for three years, but those stats are alarming.

“If I’m a Bronco, I wouldn’t like that statistic.”

NRL 360 host Anasta added: “He is a referee about to referee the biggest game of his life, this is alarming … could this change the way he referees?”

Is Adam Gee really kryptonite for the Broncos? Art: Boo Bailey

The reality is Penrith have been such a juggernaut over the past four seasons that they won’t have a losing record under any match official.

Between 2020-22, the Panthers lost just eight of 68 regular-season games for a success rate of 88 per cent – almost identical to their record under Gee this season.

The Broncos won just 34 per cent of games, including the wooden spoon in 2020, during the same period.

This season, they have saluted in three of four games with Gee in charge for a 75 per cent strike rate.

Annesley backed Gee not to crumble in the grand-final furnace given he has blown the whistle in four preliminary finals – including a flawless display in Penrith’s 38-4 elimination of Melbourne last week.

“Adam thoroughly deserves his appointment to the grand final,” Annesley said.

“He has been a standout match official this season and been incredibly consistent in 2023.

“Adam has refereed 236 matches, and his calm demeanour and strong work ethic are testament to that experience.

“It’s a competitive process, (but) Adam is the best referee for the job based on performances this year and throughout the finals series.”

Broncos coach Kevin Walters said he won’t be playing mind games by seeking a meeting with NRL referees boss Maxwell.

“I don’t see a need for that,” he said.

“I believe the refs have done a terrific job this year with their systems and how they go about things.

“There will be a lot of pressure on everyone on Sunday and regardless of the refs, it will be about the two teams and the best team will win.”

Broncos lock Pat Carrigan says he isn’t concerned Gee could dud Brisbane in the grand final.

“No disrespect to Adam, but we don’t worry about who refs when they run out,” he said.

“People might say there is a bit of Penrith bias, but the fact is they have barely lost a game for four years, so their record under any ref would be good.

“Refs are irrelevant in these games. It’s the same as Origin. We have no issues.

“The big games just flow and we’re responsible for our actions and what we do on Sunday night.”

Gee, who controlled the Australia-New Zealand women's’ World Cup final in 2017, backed himself to perform under pressure on Sunday night.

“When I first started I never thought I’d be in this position, but the longer you go through the grades I definitely think you do start to back yourself and you hope that you can get to this one day,” Gee told NRL.com.

“Now I just have to think of another game of football, just on the bigger stage. And when you think about it like that, it’s just the same job.

“I tend to just block out the pressure as best I can. I think most of our squad have come to deal with that and not be on social media and everything that comes with that.

“I’ll just stick to the usual walk and coffee down the beach with my wife and the dog and try and chill out and not think about the game too much until Sunday.”