NRL finals referees 2020: Ben Cummins axed for Grand Final rematch, Ashley Klein to officiate
He made the mother of all blunders in last year’s Grand Final, experienced a bad case of deja vu on Sunday and now he won’t officiate an NRL final this weekend. Here’s why the league had no choice on Ben Cummins.
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Leading coaches knew the NRL wouldn’t risk another PR nightmare involving referees.
That is why, coaches claim, the league, on Tuesday afternoon, brushed last year’s grand final villain, referee Ben Cummins, from officiating Friday’s night elimination semi-final between the same two teams – Sydney Roosters and Canberra.
Ashley Klein was appointed to the Roosters-Raiders match while Gerard Sutton was named to control the Souths-Parramatta semi-final on Saturday evening at Bankwest Stadium.
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Cummins and Grant Atkins will not referee a game over the weekend. Atkins will be standby ref for Friday night, Cummins the reserve for Saturday.
Privately, the NRL says Cummins’ snub was only down to form and not the fact he would have refereed the grand final replay under excruciating pressure.
It is understood Cummins wouldn’t have been chosen to referee this weekend no matter which teams were playing.
One coach not involved in the finals said: “The NRL couldn’t risk naming him to control a game between the same two teams as last year’s grand final, given what happened.”
“Imagine if there was another blunder? It was too big of a gamble. Every decision would have been heavily scrutinised.”
Cummins was overlooked for both Canberra-Roosters games played this season and wasn’t sent to GIO Stadium once to control a game during the season.
It was Cummins’ well-publicised mistake gaffe which led to the Roosters’ matchwinning try to fullback James Tedesco in last year’s decider.
With the scores locked 8-all, Cummins ruled six again but when Canberra star Jack Wighton was tackled, the referee contentiously ruled turnover.
Tedesco scored during the next set of six and the rest is history.
CUMMINS TO REF RAIDERS: ‘ARE YOU SERIOUS?’
The NRL has dodged the most controversial refereeing appointment of the season — putting last year’s grand final villain, Ben Cummins, in charge of Friday night’s elimination final between Sydney Roosters and Canberra.
Told Cummins could have been given control the Raiders-Roosters grand final rematch, Canberra great Glenn Lazarus replied: “Are they taking the piss? Are you serious? I can’t believe they would even consider doing that. He monumentally stuffed up the grand final.”
Cummins would have fronted a hostile Canberra fans still seething after the infamous ‘six again’ call they felt cost them a chance to win last year’s grand final.
It was Cummins’ gaffe which led to the Roosters’ matchwinning try to fullback James Tedesco in last year’s grand final.
With the scores locked 8-all, Cummins ruled six again abut when Canberra star Jack Wighton was tackled, then changed his mind and contentiously ruled a turnover. The Roosters scored their matchwinning try from the next set of six.
Cummins was overlooked for both Canberra-Roosters games played this year and wasn’t sent to GIO Stadium once to control a match throughout the disrupted season.
The game’s referee appointments panel — chaired by NRL general manager of elite competitions and former Manly prop Jason King — met on Monday afternoon to discuss which referees would control the two finals games this Friday and Saturday nights. A final decision will be reached around noon on Tuesday.
Either way the NRL will be scrutinised for either protecting Cummins from the Roosters-Raiders game or placing him under excruciating pressure by naming him to control another massive game between the two sides.
Cummins refereed the Souths v Newcastle match on Sunday, and again found himself involved in a six-again blunder.
Cummins signalled six-again with Newcastle in attack, but second guessed himself and awarded an off side penalty to South Sydney.
Newcastle’s Mitchell Pearce was then successful with a captain’s challenge that proved Souths’ Campbell Graham had knocked on into Kalyn Ponga.
Ashley Klein controlled Parramatta v Storm, Gerard Sutton was in charge of Panthers v Roosters while Grant Atkins oversaw the Canberra v Sharks match.
Raiders CEO Don Furner was diplomatic when asked about his club’s preference.
“We wouldn’t have a problem if the NRL appoint him (Cummins) to our game,” Furner said.
Cummins has refereed Canberra just once in 2020 – in faraway Townsville.
“The last thing we need is a repeat of what happened in last year’s grand final,” Lazarus said. “Imagine the conspiracy theories.
“Cummins would referee the match under so much pressure. The last thing Ben Cummins needs is knowing that the last time these two sides met in the biggest game of the year, he stuffed up monumentally.
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“The most sensible thing to do would be to get someone else to referee that game. Peter V’landys (ARLC chairman) is smarter than that. I can’t imagine he would allow that to happen.”
“I think Ben Cummins would be much better off refereeing the Parramatta-Souths game.”
Souths co-owner Russell Crowe took the social media to describe the decision as “horseshit” and an “embarrassment”, while conceding Canberra was “ripped off.”
NRL head of football, Graham Annesley, later claimed the call was correct.