2026 Season

The NRL’s top referee Ashley Klein has continued to officiate the code’s biggest games, despite having had a gambling problem that has cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But now it would seem that not even the backlash to revelations of Klein’s $400,000 gambling losses has been enough to keep him away from the track.

On Saturday, Klein went along to Royal Randwick Racecourse for what the Australian Turf Club branded “Missile Stakes Day”, the first day on the NSW racing calendar. Klein was accompanied trackside by his partner, Elly Howse, CBD hears, but was not seen placing any bets.

Still, we couldn’t help thinking that the appearance demonstrated a refreshingly obtuse lack of self awareness, even by the degenerate standards of this column.

Just amazing he's allowed to continue reffing games. If this was a player everyone would be extremely concerned.
 
R_A said:
The NRL’s top referee Ashley Klein has continued to officiate the code’s biggest games, despite having had a gambling problem that has cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But now it would seem that not even the backlash to revelations of Klein’s $400,000 gambling losses has been enough to keep him away from the track.

On Saturday, Klein went along to Royal Randwick Racecourse for what the Australian Turf Club branded “Missile Stakes Day”, the first day on the NSW racing calendar. Klein was accompanied trackside by his partner, Elly Howse, CBD hears, but was not seen placing any bets.

Still, we couldn’t help thinking that the appearance demonstrated a refreshingly obtuse lack of self awareness, even by the degenerate standards of this column.

Just amazing he's allowed to continue reffing games. If this was a player everyone would be extremely concerned.
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I remember Michael Sullivan lost over half a million gambling (also on horses) and continued playing.
 
I know Perenera left due to health reasons, weird though his never been sighted in an NRL role again hey?

Just saying.

Usual in that scenerio they get some sort of gig.
 
IDK that I'd actually call any ref a cheat. Henry Peranara may not have gotten over Joey kicking the winner from a sideline conversion after the bell when he was in the back row for Saints, but even despite his nearly statistically impossible win/loss ratio against us...I don't even think he was cheating the Knights. I mean we were a pretty dire team at that time in our history....

BUT I do believe that some refs tend to favour the expected result, and Klein is one of the worst for it; Kennedy I would also put in that basket. It's been a long-time problem for all underperforming teams in the NRL...they don't get the calls they should. And that can make the difference in tight games.

PS. My old man is a degenerate gambler. I say IS because even though he's not gambling now, the only reason he's not still embezzling funds, ripping off friends & family and either in jail or homeless is we've cut him off from all money and his wife controls their finances. Point being, IDK that a degenerate gambler is ever not a degenerate gambler, so it is quite shocking to me that Klein, with a gambling problem in a sport heavily involved with gambling, is still going to the races even if he's not obviously putting bets on. At best, it's a very bad look for the NRL.
 
Seano said:
Point being, IDK that a degenerate gambler is ever not a degenerate gambler, so it is quite shocking to me that Klein, with a gambling problem in a sport heavily involved with gambling, is still going to the races even if he's not obviously putting bets on. At best, it's a very bad look for the NRL.
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I think anyone can reform (even if it's to the point of not never, but just scarce)

But in the instances of former footy players, usually someone intervenes. And usually they are a bit embarrassed and ashamed it got like that because of the people around them it's affected, mood/odd behaviour etc. Klein doesn't seem to have a problem with that or any shame/embarrassment around it, considering his wife was with him at the races.

For Nathan Hindmarsh, it was his wife who had to intervene with his love of the pokies (well documented in his book). I'm not sure if he goes much now, but I didn't really get going every day, compared to those who go on weekends every once in a while. I recall he did live in apartments near Parramatta Leagues so may have been that.

For Darren Lockyer, being younger, it was his mum I think (also documented in his book). Being a rookie and on less, losing hundreds at the races each weekend wasn't fun, compared to his Broncos team mates, on more and probably having more 'fun' (names probably wouldn't be a surprise). He does admit he still does but more like once every few months, not every weekend.

I think the other HUGE red flag with Klein was that he was borrowing money off colleagues, large amounts.

At least some gambling laws have passed...cant wait till sponsorships are phased out of jerseys and some training merch so I can get ahold of one.
 
I believe anyone can reform from anything given they have the mentality to really want to change, I don’t really see Klein as wanting to, I don’t like a big gambler being a ref in a professional sport but would be fine with it if he steps away from it
 
R_A said:
I think anyone can reform (even if it's to the point of not never, but just scarce)
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Yeah, maybe, but I'd bet (lol) if my old man won Powerball on Thursday, he would gamble it away within two years.

As for Klein, is he even out from underneath his debts?
 
Just ran the ladder predictor:

1. NZW - 18-6
2. SYD - 18-6
3. CRO - 17-7
4. PEN - 16-8 - Yep, I'm predicting they cop some losses without Yeo in coming weeks & this derails them.
5. DOL - 15-9
6. NEW - 15-9 - Us being below the Phins is a result of the ladder predictor assigning a standard amount for wins, but big wins in the next couple weeks could change that.
7. SOU - 13-11
8. CBY - 13-11

North Queensland missing out due to their horrible points difference.
 
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