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Chris Barrett

Chris Barrett

Chris Barrett is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former South-East Asia correspondent for the Herald and The Age.

Klein is said to be interested in getting into sports administration.

Gambling ref Klein sat in on stewards inquiry while ‘training’ with Racing NSW

Ashley Klein, the State of Origin referee who had a $400,000 gambling problem known to the NRL, has been undertaking professional development at Racing NSW.

  • Chris Barrett

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NRL referee Ashley Klein.

Klein’s problem gambling spiralled on NRL’s watch

Rugby league’s top referee continued to gamble even as the NRL began monitoring his betting in 2019, accruing substantial losses that eventually prompted him to self-exclude.

  • Chris Barrett, Roy Masters and Adrian Proszenko
Ashley Klein is one of only three referees to have officiated 400 games in the NRL.

NRL’s number one referee had $400k gambling problem

Ashley Klein lost hundreds of thousands of dollars betting on horse racing and greyhound racing but was allowed to keep officiating in the sport’s biggest games.

  • Chris Barrett
Israel Folau has played at the top level in three football codes.

Israel Folau mounts bid to make stunning return to the NRL

The 37-year-old’s management has approached Wests Tigers about making a return to the competition, but Benji Marshall’s team declined the chance to take him on.

  • Chris Barrett
Jermaine McEwen makes a break during the Knights’ match against Gold Coast Titans during Magic Round in Brisbane last month.

Knights forward banned for one match after being charged with drink-driving

Just weeks after signing a new two-year contract with Newcastle, emerging star Jermaine McEwen will face court over two alleged driving offences.

  • Chris Barrett, Christian Nicolussi and Adrian Proszenko
The dispute between Tennis Australia and officials has been brewing since last year.

Tennis Australia suffers defeat in dispute with sacked match officials

The sport failed in a bid to throw out a case by umpires who had their registrations terminated after raising allegations about bullying and selection favouritism.

  • Chris Barrett
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Peter V’landys at Monday’s press conference.

Peter V’landys walks a tightrope chasing his $4b NRL broadcast dream

The boss of the NRL has long set his sights on surpassing the AFL’s seven-year $4.5 billion deal struck in 2022. Opinion is split on whether he can achieve that magic number.

  • Chris Barrett and Calum Jaspan
Blayke Brailey in action against Manly before being injuring his arm.

NSW Blues star put broken arm ‘back in place himself’, out of Origin II

The injury is a setback for Laurie Daley’s NSW side and brings Wests Tigers veteran Api Koroisau into the frame for a NSW recall after three years.

  • Chris Barrett
Addin Fonua-Blake takes the ball up for the Blues in game one at Accor Stadium.

The old ‘one-two punch’: Fonua-Blake eyes Origin pairing with Haas

The Blues front-rower is aware of commentary around his impact in game one but is eager to form what shapes as a formidable combination with the Broncos prop.

  • Chris Barrett
Blayke Brailey in action against Manly.

Blow for Sharks, NSW as Brailey suffers broken arm in win over Manly

Two days after his State of Origin debut, Cronulla co-captain Blayke Brailey suffered a broken arm as his team downed Manly.

  • Dominic Brock and Chris Barrett