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Truth about Ashley Klein incident as Dragons fans left fuming over NRL ref's interference

The Dragons were robbed of an almost certain try after the ball struck referee Ashley Klein.

adam lucius
Contributor
·3-min read

Momentum is such a crucial factor in determining the result of any NRL game. And St George Illawarra are today feeling the pain of a massive momentum shift after a crucial refereeing intervention changed the course of Sunday's local derby against Cronulla.

Trailing 26-10 with 15 minutes remaining, Dragons skipper Ben Hunt made a break and had Zac Lomax looming up on his inside with a clear passage to the goal-line. But Hunt's inside pass hit referee Ashley Klein instead of Lomax, denying the Saints an almost certain try under the posts.

Pictured left Ben Hunt and middle and right Ashley Klein
The Dragons were robbed of an almost certain try after the ball struck referee Ashley Klein in what was a turning point. Image:Getty/Nine

That would have reduced the margin to just 10 points, setting up a grandstand finish in front of a full house at WIN Stadium. Instead, the Red V crashed to a 38-10 loss that has placed their top eight chances in jeopardy.

"Don't write off the Dragons just yet…oh, Ashley Klein's handling has let him down," Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss said as the play unfolded. "They were going to score, the Dragons. That's an unfortunate moment."

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Ben Hunt of the Dragons celebrates scoring a try with teammates during the round 24 NRL match between St George Illawarra Dragons and Gold Coast Titans at WIN Stadium, on August 18, 2024, in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Izhar Khan/Getty Images)
The Dragons may need to win their remaining two matches to play finals footy in 2024. Image: Getty

Klein told upset Dragons players: "I've got nowhere to go. Don’t argue." He then ordered a tackle three St George Illawarra play-the-ball.

That was as close as the Red V would come to staging a revival as the Sharks scored soon after before pulling away for a convincing 28-point victory. It's left the Dragons needing to win their last two games to be assured of finishing eighth and playing finals football for the first time since 2018.

Coach Shane Flanagan fully accepted his side was second best against Cronulla but pointed out the Klein interference did harm his team's chances. "I thought if we could get one (try), we could get two," he said. "To be honest, I thought the line break when the ball hits the referee was a big change and turning point. They go down and score (shortly after).

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"But I'm not using that (to say) we could have won. They were just better than us and had more intent. I'm the first one to put my hand up and (say) we weren't good enough tonight."

Asked if he'd like a change to the interpretation of the rule when the ball hits the referee, Flanagan replied: "I’d like there to be but what does he do? He didn’t deliberately get in the way." "It was just unfortunate he got in the way. I think Zac goes and scores but that's been the rule forever and a day and we're not going to change that one." The inconsistent Dragons meet Parramatta in a must-win clash at CommBank Stadium on Saturday.

  1. Storm - 42 points (+213 for-and-against)

  2. Roosters - 36 points (+269)

  3. Sharks - 36 points (+204)

  4. Panthers - 36 points (+158)

  5. Bulldogs - 34 points (+146)

  6. Cowboys - 32 points (+43)

  7. Sea Eagles - 31 points (+121)

  8. Dragons - 28 points (-120)

  9. Broncos - 26 points (+2)

  10. Dolphins - 26 points (-27)

  11. Knights - 26 points (-70)

  12. Raiders - 26 points (-131)

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