Leading NRL referee Ashley Klein has been dropped after a crucial Bunker error that robbed the Wests Tigers at the weekend.
Klein awarded an after-the-siren penalty to North Queensland that ultimately changed the result of the game, handing the Cowboys a one-point victory over the Tigers in Townsville.
The NRL later conceded the penalty should never have been awarded.
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Klein has been omitted from the referee appointments for round 20.
It’s a sharp fall from grace for the man who officiated all three State of Origin contests this year.
Manly, meantime, has been forced to bring in a raft of team changes after seven senior players refused to wear a rainbow-adorned pride jersey against the Roosters this week.
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THURSDAY
Manly Sea Eagles vs Sydney Roosters at 4 Pines Park, 7.50pm
Referee: Grant Atkins
Sea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Pio Seci 3. Morgan Harper 4. Dylan Walker 5. Alfred Smalley 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Kurt De Luis 11. Ethan Bullemor 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. James Segeyaro 15. Sean Keppie 16. Martin Taupau 17. Morgan Boyle 18. Zac Fulton 19. Kaeo Weekes 20. James Roumanos
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 16. Drew Hutchison 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Adam Keighran 19. Terrell May 20. Naufahu Whyte 21. Ben Thomas 22. Kevin Naiqama
Analysis: Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Tolutau Koula, Josh Aloiai, Haumole Olakau’atu, Toafofoa Sipley and Josh Schuster are all out after refusing to play for Manly while wearing a jersey with a rainbow on it. Pio Seci and Alfred Smalley make their NRL debuts on the wings, while Kurt De Luis and Ethan Bullemor return to the side, as does Jake Trbojevic who was missed last week due to COVID-19. Veteran hooker James Segeyaro returns to the NRL for the first time since a drugs ban.
The Roosters welcome back Joey Manu from injury, who returns to his usual centre spot. Lindsay Collins is also back and pushes Matt Lodge to the bench.
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FRIDAY
Warriors vs Melbourne Storm at Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm (AEST)
Referee: Peter Gough
Warriors: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Euan Aitken 12. Josh Curran 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Eliesa Katoa 17. Jackson Frei 18. Tom Ale 20. Daejarn Asi 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Viliami Vailea 23. Taniela Otukolo
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Grant Anderson 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Alec MacDonald 17. Jordan Grant 18. Chris Lewis 19. Cooper Johns 20. Young Tonumaipea 21. Tom Eisenhuth 22. Sualauvi Faalogo
Analysis: The Warriors have backflipped on the Reece Walsh freezeout and named the young gun at fullback, pushing Chanel Harris-Tavita to the bench and Daejarn Asi out of the team. Jesse Arthars and Jack Murchie are also out, with Marcelo Montoya moving to centre and Edward Kosi to the wing. The Storm are unchanged from last week.
Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers at CommBank Stadium, 7.55pm
Referee: Todd Smith
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Bryce Cartwright 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Marata Niukore 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Ofahiki Ogden 20. Ky Rodwell 21. Tom Opacic 22. Sean Russell
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Robert Jennings 5. Brian To’o 6. Sean O’Sullivan 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Matt Eisenhuth 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jaeman Salmon 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Charlie Staines 18. Sunia Turuva 19. Lindsay Smith 20. Chris Smith 21. Thomas Jenkins 22. Moses Leota
Analysis: The Eels bring Bryce Cartwright onto the bench in favour of Jake Arthur. The Panthers have made several changes, with Stephen Crichton, Mitch Kenny, and Jarome Luai all out injured. There are reports Luai may be ruled out until finals time with a knee problem. Robert Jennings comes in at centre, while Sean O’Sullivan joins the halves and Charlie Staines the bench.
SATURDAY
Gold Coast Titans vs Canberra Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium, 3pm
Referee: Ben Cummins
Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Sosefo Fifita 3. Phillip Sami 4. Brian Kelly 5. Patrick Herbert 6. Tanah Boyd 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Aaron Booth 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Erin Clark 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Isaac Liu 17. Jaimin Jolliffe 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Corey Thompson 20. Greg Marzhew 21. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 22. Paul Turner
Raiders: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Emre Guler 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Matt Frawley 19. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 20. Ata Mariota 21. Semi Valemei 22. Peter Hola
Analysis: The Titans move their captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to the front row, with Erin Clark to play lock and Issac Liu on the bench. Corey Thompson is axed from the team, replaced by Brian Kelly at centre. The Raiders are unchanged.
Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at PointsBet Stadium, 5.30pm
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Connor Tracey 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane 14. Teig Wilton 15. Cameron McInnes 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Kade Dykes 19. Aiden Tolman 20. Braydon Trindall 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Matt Ikuvalu
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Jed Cartwright 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Davvy Moale 16. Siliva Havili 17. Thomas Burgess 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Josh Mansour 20. Taane Milne 21. Zane Bijorac 22. Shaq Mitchell
Analysis: The Rabbitohs lose Mark Nicholls, who is replaced in the front row by Daniel Suluka-Fifita. The Sharks are unchanged from last week.
Brisbane Broncos vs Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm
Referee: Adam Gee
Broncos: 1. Tesi Niu 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Delouise Hoeter 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Cory Paix 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Corey Jensen 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Te Maire Martin 19. Zac Hosking 20. Jake Turpin 21. Brenko Lee 22. Xavier Willison
Tigers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Brent Naden 3. Starford To’a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. James Tamou 9. Fa’amanu Brown 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Alex Seyfarth 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jackson Hastings 14. Fonua Pole 15. Zane Musgrove 16. Austin Dias 17. Tyrone Peachey 18. Jock Madden 19. Junior Tupou 20. Brandon Tumeth 21. James Roberts 22. Thomas Freebairn
Analysis: Deine Mariner makes his much anticipated NRL debut for the Broncos at centre. Billy Walters is back at hooker, pushing Jake Turpin out of the team, while Delouise Hoeter comes onto the wing in place of Jordan Pereira. The Tigers have left Luke Garner out and brought in Alex Seyfarth to the backrow, with Austin Dias joining the bench.
SUNDAY
Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium, 2pm
Referee: Chris Butler
Knights: 1. Tex Hoy 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Enari Tuala 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Anthony Milford 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Brodie Jones 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Mathew Croker 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Jack Johns 20. Jake Clifford 21. Dominic Young 22. Kurt Mann
Bulldogs: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Jackson Topine 12. Corey Waddell 13. Josh Jackson 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Tevita Pangai Junior 16. Joe Stimson 17. Chris Patolo 19. Declan Casey 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Bailey Biondi-Odo 22. Harrison Edwards 23. Tuipulotu Katoa
Analysis: Kalyn Ponga is out for Newcastle with another concussion, with Tex Hoy his replacement at fullback. Lachlan Fitzgibbon is also out with a shoulder issue and is replaced by Brodie Jones in the pack, while Matthew Croker joins the bench. The Bulldogs welcome Jake Averillo back in the No.1 jersey, while Raymond Faitala-Mariner is out injured and replaced by Jackson Topine. Corey Waddell faces the judiciary on Tuesday night to fight an eye-gouge suspension.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs North Queensland Cowboys at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 4.05pm
Referee: Chris Sutton
Dragons: 1. Moses Mbye 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Jack de Belin 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tariq Sims 14. Tyrell Sloan 15. Aaron Woods 16. Francis Molo 17. Josh Mcguire 18. Michael Molo 19. Mathew Feagai 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Tyrell Fuimaono 22. Jackson Ford
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Coen Hess 9. Reece Robson 10. Luciano Leilua 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 15. Jake Granville 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Connelly Lemuelu 19. Ben Hampton 20. Reuben Cotter 21. Brendan Elliot 22. Ben Condon
Analysis: The Dragons lose Cody Ramsey to a knee injury, with Moses Mbye coming in at fullback. Jack Bird moves to centre and Tariq Sims starts at lock, while Aaron Woods and Tyrell Sloan join the bench – the latter replacing an injured Jayden Sullivan. The Cowboys are unchanged.
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