Adam Gee has been appointed to referee Sunday's NRL grand final between the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights, with veteran video official Chris Butler confirmed as the bunker official for the season's biggest match. The announcements confirm a significant reshuffle among the game's top officials, with both incumbent grand final referee Grant Atkins and high-profile video official Ashley Klein missing out on the marquee appointments.
Gee Returns for Second Grand Final Appointment
Gee becomes a two-time grand final referee, having previously officiated the 2023 decider between Penrith and Brisbane. His most recent assignment came just days ago when he controlled the Roosters' 36-20 preliminary final victory over the Dolphins, a match that generated considerable discussion after he referred two contentious tries — to Jamayne Isaako and Rob Toia — to the bunker for review. Both were subsequently awarded by video official Klein, who determined there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decisions.
Butler will support Gee from the bunker during the men's grand final, while Tyson Brough and Phil Henderson will serve as touch judges on the night.
Klein Demoted After Semi-Final Controversy
Ashley Klein's omission from grand final officiating duties is one of the more striking elements of the appointments. The experienced official, who oversaw all three State of Origin matches in 2025, was stood down from on-field refereeing duties the previous weekend following a contentious call — or rather, a call that wasn't made — during the Warriors' semi-final loss to Newcastle at Eden Park.
Klein failed to award an escort penalty to the Warriors in the final minute of that match, a decision widely seen as having a direct bearing on the result. He was subsequently moved to bunker duties for the preliminary finals, with that demotion now effectively carrying over into grand final week.
Klein will not be entirely absent from grand final day, however. He has been assigned to the bunker for the State Championship match — the curtain-raiser contest between the NSW Cup and Queensland Cup premiers — in which Penrith face the Dolphins. That match will be refereed on the field by Kieren Irons.
Atkins Overlooked After Sitting Out Preliminary Finals
Grant Atkins, who held the title of the NRL's incumbent grand final referee heading into 2025, was passed over entirely for Sunday's appointment. Atkins did not officiate in either of the two preliminary finals, which effectively ruled him out of consideration for the season's main event.
It was veteran referee Gerard Sutton who took charge of the other preliminary final — Newcastle's tense 22-14 defeat of Penrith — but Sutton too has not been appointed to the grand final itself.
Sharpe to Referee NRLW Grand Final
On the women's side of the game, Belinda Sharpe has been confirmed as referee for the NRLW grand final between the Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos, scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Wyatt Raymond will serve as the bunker review official for that match.
The NRLW decider precedes the men's grand final, rounding out what shapes as a full afternoon and evening of elite rugby league on what is one of the sport's most celebrated days of the year.
What the Appointments Mean Heading Into Sunday
The selection of Gee — and the conspicuous absence of both Klein and Atkins from the main event — signals that the NRL's match review and officiating panels are not averse to making pointed statements through appointment decisions. Klein's demotion in particular drew significant attention given his prominent role in Origin football and the high-stakes nature of the semi-final incident that preceded it.
For Gee, the appointment is a validation of his standing as one of the competition's most trusted referees. He will be expected to manage what is sure to be a fiercely contested decider between the Roosters and the Knights, two clubs who have both produced compelling performances across the finals series to reach Sunday's match.
With the full officiating panel now confirmed, attention turns to the game itself — a grand final that promises to be one of the most closely contested in recent memory.
