NRL axes referee Grant Atkins over eight-tackle set debacle during Rabbitohs-Knights clash

One of the game’s leading referees has been dumped for three matches for his role in the eight-tackle set debacle that helped land a hammer blow on South Sydney’s finals hopes.

South Sydney players react to a Knights try. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty

A leading referee and two senior touch judges involved in the eight-tackle try fiasco in Newcastle last weekend have been dumped on the eve of the NRL finals.

Referee Grant Atkins has been overlooked for an NRL game this round as have touch judges Dave Munro and Phil Henderson.

The three match officials presided over the eight-tackle debacle during the Knights win over South Sydney on Sunday.

Their axing is a clear warning that the NRL will not tolerate such serious adjudication blunders with the all-important finals just a fortnight away.

Atkins has been demoted to being a Bunker review official for three matches this coming round.

The Knights scored on the eighth tackle after Atkins lost count of the tackles at McDonald Jones Stadium. It was a seven tackle set.

Referee Grant Atkins (C) has been relegated to Bunker duties for three weeks. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty

It is the referee’s duty to count the tackles each set.

Adam Gee, the bunker review official from the Knights-Rabbitohs game, avoided being dumped this round.

NRL head of football elite competitions Graham Annesley gave reasons the three match officials were dumped.

“All three officials are very experienced and they have plenty of credit built up over a long period of strong performances,” Annesley said.

“However, serious errors do have consequences, which they all accept goes with the job.

“Grant Atkins is one of our most senior referees, and I have no doubt he will quickly recover from this set-back.”

South Sydney players react to a Knights try. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty

The score was 12-4 to Newcastle when the drama occurred. Souths kicked the ball dead in goal, allowing Newcastle a seven-tackle set.

On the eighth tackle, Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland grubber-kicked with prop Daniel Saifiti scoring.

It all but ended Souths’ chances of victory.

Replays subsequently revealed the fifth tackle in the set was missed.

The NRL released its match officials for round 26 on Tuesday afternoon with Atkins, Munro and Henderson all missing.

Munro was also the standby referee last Sunday.

Defeat was a crippling blow to South Sydney’s final aspirations although most agreed Newcastle was clearly the better side on Sunday.

After the game, Souths chief executive Blake Solly told the media that it was “imperative the game gets these calls right.”

Newcastle won the match 29-10 – the club’s seventh successive victory.