‘Match officials have been selected on form’: NRL fans stunned as leading referee overlooked for first week of finals

Team list Tuesday was dominated by the return of some of the game’s biggest stars from injury for the first week of the finals, but there is one notable omission that has gone under the radar and will come as a shock to most NRL fans.

A year after he was in charge of one of the greatest grand finals of all time, referee Adam Gee hasn’t been given a game this weekend, with Ashley Klein, Gerard Sutton, Todd Smith and Grant Atkins chosen ahead of him.

Gee is the standby referee for Penrith’s game against the Roosters as well as Saturday’s clash in Townsville, while he also hasn’t been picked to work in the Bunker.

The shock demotion comes a year after he officiated games in each of the four weeks of the finals, with Gee in control of the 2023 decider that was allowed to flow and led to some incredible attacking highlights.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley said the decision simply came down to form and there were no howlers in recent weeks that cost Gee a game this weekend.

But the decision will leave fans scratching their heads given there were calls for him to referee this year’s State of Origin series, with Gee in charge of 15 finals matches throughout his career.

“We only have four games this week, and match officials have been selected on form,” Annesley said, not ruling out the possibility of Gee returning later in the finals.

“Todd has earned his spot based on really solid performances throughout the season.

“We are fortunate to now have more referees capable of controlling finals than we have games available.

“Competition for positions inevitably drives improved performance and consistency.”