29 Sep 2010

Under fire officials appointed for NRL Grand Final

6:07 am on 29 September 2010

The Australian league officials Shayne Hayne and Bill Harrigan have overcome controversy to be selected alongside Tony Archer as the decision makers for Sunday's National Rugby League Grand Final between St George-Illawarra and the Sydney Roosters.

Archer will referee his fourth final, while Hayne will join him on the field in his second premiership decider.

Video referee Harrigan was appointed despite being demoted for the season's biggest howler just two months ago when he allowed a try to St George Illawarra's Mark Gasnier when he had blatantly dropped the ball.

Hayne's experience got him the nod ahead of Jared Maxwell and Ben Cummins, despite his questionable decisions in the two closest matches of the finals series.