‘Protected species’: NRL accused of playing favourites as Klein’s punishment for blunders revealed

‘Protected species’: NRL accused of playing favourites as Klein’s punishment for blunders revealed

Bydering

Ashley Klein has been called “a protected species” despite NRL officials preparing to axe the veteran referee from grand final duties. Klein has refereed 23 finals matches, 14 State of Origins and was in charge of last year’s decider but has come under fire for two bad mistakes last weekend. The whistleblower first missed a…

Trade requests that could come within days as Bombers accused of ‘leaking’; how Cats avoided scrutiny: Talking Points

Trade requests that could come within days as Bombers accused of ‘leaking’; how Cats avoided scrutiny: Talking Points

Bydering

With their seasons over, the bottom-10 teams will now brace for trade requests — and the Darcy Parish-Essendon situation is mightily intriguing. Plus how North Melbourne won its way out of a wooden spoon again — and Geelong escaped scrutiny — and why a Magpies recruit could be the biggest loser of a selection squeeze….