Ashley Klein Kept Officiating After 2019 Gambling Problem Emerged

ashley klein kept refereeing the NRL’s biggest games after the league learned in 2019 that he had a gambling problem and had gambled away hundreds of thousands of dollars. The NRL’s number one referee is still set to take State of Origin Game II in Melbourne next week.

Klein and the NRL

Klein’s place in the middle has not changed, even after the league became aware of the issue years ago. He was allowed to continue officiating league matches, including the biggest games on the schedule, despite the financial damage described in the facts.

There is no suggestion that he acted inappropriately while officiating or breached any NRL regulations. That leaves the issue squarely on the league’s decision to keep him on the field after becoming aware of his gambling problem in 2019.

State of Origin Game II

The next assignment makes the story sharper. Klein is set to referee State of Origin Game II in Melbourne next week, keeping him in one of the sport’s highest-pressure slots while the league’s handling of his situation sits in the background.

For the NRL, the central detail is the timeline. It knew about the gambling problem in 2019, allowed him to keep working, and still has him scheduled for a marquee match. For Klein, the role shows he remains trusted to handle the league’s biggest occasions.

The result is a referee whose standing has not been reduced by the disclosure, even as the size of the gambling losses adds weight to how long the league has lived with the issue.