When Ashley Klein blows time on at Perth’s Optus Stadium tomorrow night, it will mark his 11th consecutive State of Origin match in charge.
Whilst a long way from the 21-match streak set by Gerard Sutton back in 2021, another major milestone is fast approaching for Bathurst-born Klein: the all-time Origin refereeing record.
Wednesday night will be Klein’s 19th Origin—putting him within touching distance of both Bill Harrigan (21 matches, 1991-2003) and current record holder, Sutton (22 matches, 2014-2021).
Should Klein continue to be entrusted with rugby league’s annual showpieces, he could surpass both in 2026.
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“A protected species, a koala bear”
Perhaps inevitably, given he’s officiated in many of the game’s most emotion-charged contests over the past 16 years, controversy has never been far away for 45-year-old Klein.
In one memorable spray in 2023, veteran reporter Phil Rothfield unleashed on both Klein and the NRL following two highly contentious calls in the Melbourne Storm’s NRL semi-final win over the Roosters.
“Ashley Klein has always been seen as a little bit of a protected species, a koala bear,” Rothfield said on NRL 360.
“He’s made errors in the past that haven’t been treated as seriously as other referees who have made mistakes.”
Such is life for an NRL referee. Loved by some, despised by others—especially those on the losing side.
Klein began top-level refereeing in England, overseeing more than 150 Super League matches before returning home to join the NRL ranks in 2009.
His Origin debut came four years later in 2013. But after being appointed to the first two matches of the series, Klein was promptly dumped for the Sydney decider following a spiteful Game II at Suncorp Stadium that saw four players sin-binned for fighting.
Klein didn’t see another Origin until 2018, with his current streak beginning at the start of the 2022 series.
Away from Origin, Klein also became just the second official to referee 400 NRL games during last year’s finals series—an impressive feat given he overcame a potentially career-ending Achilles injury back in 2020.
“He was nearly done, physically, three or four years ago,” NRL GM of Elite Officiating, Jared Maxwell revealed at the time of Klein’s 400th NRL game.
“Not too many would have survived that. He was really on one leg.”
Of course, accusations of being one-legged are considerably better than being one-eyed when you’re a referee.
Klein’s Origin ledger currently stands at NSW 10 wins, Queensland 8.