FINALLY the NRL has acted on a refereeing crisis that was affecting the integrity of the finals series.

The game’s No. 1 referee Gerard Sutton has been relegated to a support role and Gavin Badger dropped altogether as a result of last Friday night’s refereeing debacle at Suncorp Stadium.

The often stubborn refs boss Tony Archer was left with no choice after a performance considered the worst by referees in finals football for 40 years that caused outrage among fans on social media.

media_camera Gerard Sutton has been relegated to pocket referee. Picture: Mark Evans

“In regards to last Friday’s game, it is my belief that Gerry should have refereed better,” Archer conceded. “As a result he didn’t retain his position as a lead referee.

“Following a detailed review of all matches from week one of the finals, the two lead referees for week two matches will be Matt Cecchin and Ben Cummins.

“It is my view that they were the best performing referees from last weekend. Gerard Sutton and Alan Shortall will be the assisting referees.”

It was a big move considering Sutton has been the NRL’s pin-up referee for several years.

Still it was one that had to be made because his errors heavily contributed to the Titans losing the game against the Broncos.

media_camera Archer has finally acted on poor refereeing.

His most crucial mistake was allowing a Broncos try in the 51st minute to give the home side a 10-point lead when replays clearly showed centre James Roberts had kicked an opponent in the back in the lead-up to the try.

He also missed Broncos forward Corey Parker headbutting an opponent. There was no penalty but Parker received an official warning letter from the match review committee.

Sutton has refereed grand finals and State of Origins as the game’s number one referee in recent years but will now struggle to get the grand final following his demotion.

media_camera Referee Gavin Badger has been dumped altogether. Picture: Mark Evans

There were fears he would escape being dumped when Archer said over the weekend: “I’m very comfortable with how they are handling the games at the moment.”

The Daily Telegraph understands it required some prodding of Archer from senior NRL management before the decision was made to relegate his main man.

No one deserves his appointment more than Matt ‘Chicken Legs’ Cecchin for Friday night’s Cowboys-Broncos game in Townsville.

He is considered by many to be the game’s best referee but rarely gets a shot ahead of Sutton and Cummins.