Business as usual: Gee not fazed ahead of first grand final

While revealing it will be the pinnacle of his career as a match official, Adam Gee insists it will be business as usual this week ahead of his first time refereeing an NRL Grand Final. 

Gee has been announced as the referee for the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership decider after officiating the Warriors v Knights match in finals week two and last Friday’s preliminary final between the Panthers and Storm.

Games don't come any bigger than that which he'll be involved in on Sunday but the 38-year-old said he will have no issues blocking out the pressure.

“When I first started I never thought I'd be in this position, but the longer you go through the grades I definitely think you do start to back yourself and you hope that you can get to this one day,” Gee said on Tuesday. 

“Now I just have to think of another game of football, just on the bigger stage. And when you think about it like that, it's just the same job.

“I tend to just block out the pressure as best I can. I think most of our squad have come to deal with that and not be on social media and everything that comes with that.

I’ll just stick to the usual walk and coffee down the beach with my wife and the dog and try and chill out and not think about the game too much until Sunday.

Adam Gee

Gee, a 236-game referee, will be joined by Chris Sutton and David Munro as touch judges, while last year's grand final referee Ashley Klein is in the NRL Bunker. 

Belinda Sharpe will referee the NRLW decider, having earlier this year made history alongside Kasey Badger as the first females to referee in the NRL under the single referee system. 

Gee said he was grateful to know he would have Klein with him on Sunday, albeit as a voice from the bunker. 

“To have Ash there in the bunker on Sunday is great and we’re really good mates and I'm really happy that he's there with me," Gee said. 

“We’ve been tight for many years and I'll definitely be touching base with him throughout the week. Particularly with media duties and what will happen between now and the grand final.”