Klein almost dropped, Butler survives, grand final shootout revealed: NRL preliminary final referees and match officials

The referee appointments for the NRL and NRLW preliminary finals have been confirmed, with Ashley Klein dropped after last weekend's howler in the New Zealand Warriors' loss to the Newcastle Knights.

It's not the first time Klein has been axed at this stage of the season, although he will remain involved in the weekend, with the veteran match official to work the bunker in the Friday night preliminary final as the Dolphins tackle the Sydney Roosters.

Adam Gee will referee that match, with the man thought of as the fourth official coming into the finals now in the driver's seat for the grand final after being retained last weekend ahead of Grant Atkins and Gerard Sutton.

Sutton has won the race ahead of Atkins to replace Klein, with the seven-time NRL Grand Final referee to take the whistle for the Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights clash.

Sutton and Gee are now effectively the only two referees who can claim the grand final, with Gee also having experienced the first Sunday in October previously when he took charge of the 2023 decider between the Panthers and Broncos.

Chris Butler has surprisingly been kept in the bunker despite having plenty of blame alongside Klein for the final minutes of the Warriors and Knights clash last weekend.

Matt Noyen, Daniel Luttringer, Phil Henderson and Tyson Brough retain the four touch judge positions for the weekend, while the NRLW match officials are also unchanged from last weekend's fixtures.

NRL preliminary final match officials

The Dolphins vs Sydney Roosters

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch judges: Phil Henderson and Tyson Brough
Bunker officials: Ashley Klein

Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch judges: Matt Noyen and Daniel Luttringer
Bunker officials: Chris Butler

NRLW preliminary finals

Sydney Roosters vs Canberra Raiders

Referee: Kadey Badger
Touch judges: Rochelle Tamarua and Tori Wilkie
Bunker officials: Liam Kennedy

Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos

Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Touch judges: Karra-Lee Nolan and Izzy Davidson
Bunker officials: Todd Smiths