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Sport
Joel Gould

Klein edges Atkins to referee NRL decider

Ashley Klein will referee the NRL grand final. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Ashley Klein has edged out Grant Atkins to take the whistle in the NRL grand final between Penrith and Parramatta, his first decider as the sole referee.

Kasey Badger has been appointed to referee the NRLW grand final between Newcastle and Parramatta which precedes the NRL showdown on Sunday at Accor Stadium.

The 43-year-old Klein refereed all three State of Origin matches this year. He previously adjudicated the 2018 grand final with Gerard Sutton.

"I am really looking forward to Sunday. I actually live in western Sydney and you can feel it in the street already that everybody is really excited," Klein said.

Grant Atkins, who refereed last week's North Queensland v Parramatta preliminary final, will be the Bunker official for the NRL grand final while the touch judges are Phil Henderson and Drew Oultram. The match kicks off at 7.30pm.

Badger was the first female to be lead referee of an NRLW decider in 2019 and said it was an "absolute honour" to be in charge again.

"It is a reward for what you have done during the season. Everyone has ups and down so it is nice to be here at the end of the year and experience all the different things that come with grand final week," she said.

"I am a massive fan of the women's game... and really invested in watching that competition grow. To be able to partake in the day is just incredible."

Adam Gee is the Bunker official for the NRLW grand final with Jordan Morel and Torie Wilkie the touch judges. The match starts at 3.55pm.

The first match on grand final day, kicking off at 1.20pm, will be the State Challenge showdown between Penrith and Norths Devils. Darian Furner will referee the clash with Chris Butler in the Bunker. Cameron Puddy and Dave Munro are the touch judges.

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