NRL confirms 2026 Grand Final referee and match officials

The officials for all three games on Sunday have been revealed.

EDITOR | September 29, 2026 - 12:15pm

NEW!

Adam Gee will take charge of his second Grand Final after being appointed by the NRL on Tuesday morning.

Gee, who was the surprise inclusion for the opening week of the finals, shot into contention when he was retained ahead of Gerard Sutton and Grant Atkins for Week 2 of the finals.

He then rose to favouritism when Ashley Klein was axed for the preliminary finals, with Gee now hanging on to the prized appointment ahead of the recalled Sutton, who will serve as standby referee for the decider, to be played on Sunday evening between the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights.

Phil Henderson and Tyson Brough have won the race to wield the flags on the sidelines, while Chris Butler, who has become the game's most used bunker official over the course of the season, will back up his State of Origin appointments.

Klein, meanwhile, has been relegated to the bunker role in the State Championship game between the Penrith Panthers and Redcliffe Dolphins after sitting at the video screens for Friday night's preliminary final between the Roosters and Dolphins - a performance that wasn't without controversy.

Kieren Irons will serve as the man in the middle for the first clash on Sunday, with Jack Klein and Nathan Cornick to run the sidelines.

In the women's decider, predictably between the Roosters and Broncos, Belinda Sharpe has edged out Kasey Badger to hold the referee spot, while Karra-Lee Nolan and Rochelle Tamarua will run the sidelines, with Wyatt Raymond beating out Liam Kennedy for the bunker spot.