Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy refused to publicly use the decision as a reason for the Storm's surprise defeat. Klein wasn't assigned to one of the two semi-finals this weekend after Annesley confirmed a series of errors went against the Storm. He is on standby for the Rabbitohs-Sea Eagles elimination final at ANZ Stadium on Friday night. Ashley Klein won't be in charge of either semi-final this weekend. Credit:NRL Photos The mistakes included Klein twice failing to hear or heed advice from assistant referee Chris Sutton, including an off-the-ball tackle on Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen by Elliott Whitehead and another illegal strip by the Englishman. Sutton could be heard on the referees audio yelling at Klein to penalise Whitehead's tackle on support player Papenhuyzen, a mistake which was compounded on the same play when Klein didn't sin bin Jarrod Croker for holding down Justin Olam in a tackle.

Annesley said either offence should have warranted 10 minutes in the sin bin. Klein officiated last year's grand final, has been in the middle for the last six State of Origin matches and blew 21 penalties in the Melbourne-Canberra clash. There were only 22 penalties combined across the other three finals matches over the weekend. Will Chambers and touch judge Michael Wise. Credit:Getty Images "This was the closest game over the weekend, it was probably the most intense game over the course of the weekend and it was the most controversial game over the course of the weekend," Annesley said. The NRL took the unusual step of finalising its referee appointments on Monday night rather than waiting until Tuesday.

The PRLMO, which represents the NRL's elite referees squad, felt compelled to blast the constant criticism of referees on the eve of the biggest matches of the season, including one headline about Wise's decision which it described as "highly exaggerated and sensationalised reporting". "These exaggerated and sensationalised comments can have a very deep impact on the well-being of

the individuals, their families, their peers and the game itself," PRLMO chairman Silvio Del Vecchio said. The culture of blaming match officials and demanding perfection is something that has to stop Silvio Del Vecchio "The culture of blaming match officials and demanding perfection is something that has to stop. This has a flow-on effect from NRL to grassroots and it impacts the willingness of people to get involved and take up a whistle or a flag. Without the match officials, there is no game." Loading