Ben Cummins and Gerard Sutton will referee the NRL Telstra Premiership 2019 Grand Final this Sunday, October 6, between Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders.
NRL Head of Football Elite Competitions Graham Annesley said both Cummins and Sutton deserved to officiate in the Premiership decider at ANZ Stadium.
“Ben and Gerry have been the stand-out referees in the finals series and they will make an excellent team on Sunday in the Grand Final,” Mr Annesley said.
“They have a significant amount of experience in big games.
“They have both refereed in Grand Finals previously and Gerry refereed in all three State of Origins this year.
“There is no doubt in my mind they are the best referees for the job.”
Both Cummins and Sutton will be refereeing in their fifth Grand Finals. They refereed together in the 2015 Grand Final between North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos.
Sutton will be officiating in his fifth Grand Final in a row.
NRL General Manager Elite Officiating Bernard Sutton said: “I think our officials this year have had a very good season and their hard work has brought strong results.
“The officiating group for the Grand Final have all refereed in big matches before and they will referee well with each other.
“They have refereed in numerous State of Origins as well as obviously Grand Finals before and importantly they have refereed together in big games.
“They are a tried and tested combination.”
Lead referee Kasey Badger and assist referee Daniel Schwass were appointed to the Holden Women’s Premiership Grand Final. Kara-Lee Nolan and Jordan Morel will be touch judges for the match, between Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra Dragons.
Badger becomes the first female referee to be lead referee in the Holden Women’s Premiership Grand Final, having been assist referee in 2018.
Additionally, lead referee Todd Smith and assist referee Tyson Brough were appointed to the State Championship Grand Final. The touch judges for the clash, between Burleigh Bears and Newtown Jets, will be Ben Teague and Jacob Whitehouse.
“It is a fantastic achievement for all of our officials involved in Grand Final Day and a reward for all their hard work,” Bernard Sutton said.
The match officials for the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final are:
Lead Referee: Ben Cummins
Assist Referee: Gerard Sutton
Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Review Official: Ben Galea
Touch judges: Chris Butler and Nick Beashel
Standby Referee: Grant Atkins
Standby Touch judge: David Munro
