Support for Referee Ashley Klein
State of Origin coaches Billy Slater and Laurie Daley have publicly voiced their support for referee Ashley Klein following his admission of a past gambling addiction. The revelation came to light after a report by the Sydney Morning Herald highlighted Klein’s history with gambling. However, the top referee in the sport has since clarified that he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the NRL and is still allowed to continue refereeing.
Klein admitted to struggling with a gambling addiction in the past but emphasized that his betting was limited to horse racing and greyhounds, never on rugby league. He also mentioned that he closed all his betting accounts several years ago. In a statement, Klein said:
“I received help to deal with the problem and closed all associated betting accounts. This was a difficult period of my life but one which did not in any way influence my job as a match official.”
Debate Over Refereeing Role
The controversy surrounding Klein’s personal life has sparked debate about whether he should have stepped down from refereeing State of Origin 2 on Wednesday night. However, the NRL has shown no interest in removing him from the role.
Coaches Stand Behind Referee
At a joint press conference on Tuesday, Klein received strong backing from both State of Origin coaches. Slater described the public exposure of Klein’s personal issues as “unfair.” He stated:
“To be honest, I personally think it’s unfair to have something personal like that be aired publicly. I feel for Ashley … it hasn’t been discussed within our camp and that’s my personal position with it. I think it’s quite unfair on him.”
NSW coach Laurie Daley echoed Slater’s sentiments, expressing confidence in Klein’s ability to perform his duties without any impact from his past. He added:
“It’s challenging when things like that get brought up and I hope Ashley has got the right support and people around him, to help navigate the period. We’ve got no issues with Ashley being part of the game.”
Key Points
- The controversy surrounding Ashley Klein’s gambling history has led to public discussion about his suitability to referee State of Origin matches.
- Klein has confirmed that his gambling was limited to horse racing and greyhounds and that he has since closed all accounts.
- Both Billy Slater and Laurie Daley have expressed support for Klein, stating that his personal life should not affect his professional performance.
- The NRL has taken no action to remove Klein from his role, indicating confidence in his ability to manage the responsibilities of a top-level referee.
