The NRL Integrity Unit invoked special measures to extend its powers in 2019 to ensure it was across the entirety of Ashley Klein’s betting activities.
The Herald on Friday revealed the leading NRL referee, who will take charge of Wednesday’s State of Origin match, was allowed to officiate in the code’s biggest games despite having had a gambling problem that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The investigation reported that the NRL knew of Klein’s gambling issues for four years but let him continue to referee matches at the top level.
The Integrity Unit was made aware of Klein’s issues in 2019 and immediately commenced an investigation. Normally, the game will only look at rugby league betting of its players, officials and employees. However, they obtained far-reaching powers to ensure that they could see all of Klein’s actions on other sports, including horses and greyhounds. They never saw any evidence of betting on the NRL which is why the governing body is standing by him as the Origin referee on Wednesday night. It’s a brave show of loyalty to a man under fire.
The NRL’s position is that the matter was dealt with several years ago. Where it is misreading the room is that for the public, this is fresh news that needs unpacking.
The NRL says Klein is up to handling the pressure of Wednesday night, but at the same time it is ignoring the misgivings of fans still getting their heads around the fact a leading referee has been revealed to have had a gambling problem.
When you consider the often negative view the public has of referees in general, and then throw in a gambling drama, you can understand why Klein may be better off having Wednesday night off.
He’s dealing with his issues publicly after having conquered them privately and that is not an easy thing to do. His family would have been impacted heavily by the revelations, even if they were already well aware of everything that he has been through.
The only saving grace for Klein is that the game is in Melbourne. While there will be thousands of interstate fans making their way to the MCG, it won’t be the same hard-nosed rugby league crowd as would be the case in a Sydney or Brisbane Origin.
Regardless, the NRL needs to give him a spell as the public digests the issue.
Confusing state of affairs for Roosters
The selection of Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase in the NSW side following the withdrawal of Bulldogs pair Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz has left his club fuming.
The Roosters’ frustration is not with their player – they are delighted for him. But the club is making noise about how the two Bulldogs can be fit to play an NRL match against Parramatta on Monday night, but unavailable for their state this week.
Crichton, who was selected for NSW on that Monday night following the Bulldogs’ win over the Eels, withdrew due to injury. Kiraz was set to be the back-up option for Crichton on the NSW bench, but he was also ruled out through injury following the Parramatta game.
The Roosters, who suffered a heavy loss to the Dolphins on Friday night while missing Nawaqanitawase and a handful of other stars to Origin duty, were upset because they saw Crichton dismiss concerns over his shoulder in a Fox Sports interview after the Eels game. They were stunned he was ruled out later that night.
In fairness to Crichton, he has been playing busted for weeks since suffering the AC joint injury. How he has taken the field is a tribute to his commitment to his club.
Kiraz has a two-centimetre tear in his calf. It’s ridiculous that he has been able to play with that and the Bulldogs are stunned he is playing at all.
The Bulldogs have had their own issues with Origin disruption in the past, with Matt Burton unavailable for club duties after being named 18th man for the Blues on five occasions between 2023 and 2025.
The Roosters have supplied seven players (three for Queensland, four for NSW) for Origin next week and the Blues are aware the Bondi Junction club is upset.
The club also have two coaches, Matt King and Boyd Cordner on the Blues staff. The pair backed Victor Radley to be picked in game I, and were justified when the back-rower played a blinder. But it was Nawaqanitawase’s teammates from Australia’s end-of-season tour of England last year who wanted him ahead of another brilliant youngster, Dolphins centre Jack Bostock.
Bostock is now in the Blues 19 after Casey McLean’s withdrawal. Making the Roosters even angrier, Bostock was able to play in the Dolphins’ win over the Roosters on Friday night before joining the Blues as an emergency replacement on Saturday.
If Crichton and Kiraz play for the Bulldogs against the Sea Eagles next Saturday you can imagine the Roosters will be fuming.
Tui blues
Melbourne forward Tui Kamikamica is looking increasingly unlikely to play for the Storm again after a setback with his recovery from his stroke.
Kamikamica required emergency surgery, the first of two operations, after suffering a stroke in late March. The episode resulted in stints in hospital and a rehabilitation ward.
In late April, Kamikamica was hopeful of returning in six weeks, declaring: “I will be back out there again.”
The Storm are supporting him through his struggle to return, but he is not making the progress they were hoping he would. Kamikamica is desperate to play in the World Cup for Fiji and has not given up on that dream. He also has an opportunity to play in the English Super League, which could happen if his health improves. He is a significant loss to the Storm on and off the field.
Teddy try another work of art
James Tedesco’s stunning 78th-minute grab from a Nathan Cleary bomb to win game one in Sydney is already part of Origin folklore – and it’s about to be honoured in the best possible way.
Tedesco’s series-winning try in 2019 is already on the wall at NSW Rugby League headquarters, where it serves as a reminder of the never-give-up attitude the team wants to embody.
The most recent highlight is going up on another wall adjacent to the first Teddy moment.
We broke the news to him. “Is it really?” he said. “It was a team thing to get me there, and it was Nathan’s kick. But if they are doing that, it’s a pretty great honour.
“The Blues, the state … it means so much to me. I even thought at my days in this jumper were done so to get the opportunity and then for that try to be part of what happened, it’s a really special moment and honour.”
Key man making sure Blues get message
There has been a lot of focus on the Blues’ playing group, but possibly the most significant change has been the addition of Ryan Hinchcliffe to the coaching staff.
The Storm assistant is considered one of the best emerging coaches in the game. He will have a vital role on Wednesday night, running out as a trainer in the yellow shirt and acting as the message man for coach Laurie Daley. The Blues saw communication between the coach and players as a key area they need to improve.
Storm head coach Craig Bellamy will also be part of the Blues camp when they set up in Melbourne this weekend.
Bellamy had his very understandable reasons for not being part of this year’s camp due to illness. But he will be at a dinner on Monday night with a range of former Storm players with Blues pedigree. Daley will be delighted to have his good friend by his side.
Politis keeping quiet on Arrow rumour
Roosters supremo Nick Politis does so much for so many behind the scenes, but he didn’t want to take credit for paying for Jai Arrow’s trip to Spain, where the retired South Sydney star sought treatment for motor neurone disease.
A rumour to that effect had done the rounds and reached Politis’ ears when I called him to say we had talked about it on a podcast on Triple M. He politely declined to discuss the matter and later asked for it not to be written.
Sometimes a good deed deserves to be reported. Expect the Roosters to do more for Jai as a club. At times like this even the fiercest rivalries are put to one side.
Arrow, who was diagnosed with MND and forced into retirement last month, spent a week at SHA Spain, a wellness retreat tucked into the Sierra Helada hillside on the Mediterranean Sea.
Evans’ relief after watershed interview
Having been in close contact with rugby league great Ian Roberts during the mid-1990s when he was considering coming out while still playing at Manly, I have a small insight into how big a call Kane Evans eventually made this week.
Ian and I talked regularly about his experiences before he came out in 1995. He remained the only openly gay rugby league player before Evans’ interview with James Bracey on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
Evans’ decision to go public, and the resulting interview, came about much quicker than happened with Roberts.
The seeds were first sown on Friday, May 29, when Bracey went to lunch in the city with a friend who told him about Evans’ predicament. How he’d been blackmailed over his sexuality for years. And how he wanted to own his story and finally tell his parents, with his Mum gravely ill.
Bracey told his friend he believed he could offer Evans a safe space to do it and suggested they should meet up. Later that day, they locked in coffee for Monday morning.
On Monday, June 1, there was a meeting between Kane and a middle man. It lasted almost 90 minutes and it was a pretty emotional discussion. They walked away knowing an interview on air was the way forward. They filmed the story on the Thursday.
The obvious question is … who’s the middle man? His name is Tim Freeburn. He is a businessman, a tequila magnate and he also happens to be Guy Sebastian’s best mate. Bracey speaks very highly of him.
“Kane is a great guy and always looking out for others,” Freeburn said. “He was in a position where he needed help. I happened to be speaking to Kane a couple of weeks ago when he mentioned he was getting concerned that there were people trying to out him publicly. It was his story to tell his family and friends and I wanted him to own that opportunity.
“I know James Bracey, who is a very decent and trustworthy person, and asked him if he could help get Kane’s story out in the best way where he was comfortable. James met for a coffee with Kane and myself, and Kane told James his story and said he wanted it out ASAP so he could own it. The second that interview finished, I could see the relief on Kane’s face.”
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