Overview

• Klein blew 18 penalties in Melbourne’s win over Cronulla, including 10 in the first half-hour, producing an unusually stop-start preliminary final.
• Official figures showed nine penalties against each team and five set restarts, with only about 22 minutes of ball-in-play time in the first half.
• Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon lamented the lack of flow for fans, while Broncos coach Michael Maguire said he was unconcerned by a potential penalty-fest and Penrith’s Isaah Yeo emphasized discipline.
• Flashpoints included a 64th-minute Harry Grant tackle on Ronaldo Mulitalo viewed by some as a hip-drop that drew no penalty, and a high-contact call on Braydon Trindall compared to a similar non-call six days earlier.
• With grand final appointments yet to be confirmed, reporting suggests Grant Atkins could move into contention with a clean outing, though Klein’s record of refereeing the past three deciders remains influential.