Whistleblower Steve Lyons is back in the NRL after spending more than two years in referee purgatory.

Lyons will control the Sydney Roosters-Newcastle match at Gosford's Bluetongue Stadium on Sunday, his first NRL match since late 2005.

It will be only a short-term return with Lyons to go back to sideline duties in round seven when there are only six games in the NRL.

Lyons and Matt Cecchin were added to the referees squad this year as `multi-skilled' components, meaning they are to be used mainly as sideline duties but are also on hand as refereeing back-ups.

Lyons has 57 top grade games to his credit after officiating in his first match in 2001.

Tony De Las Heras has been rested, according to referee's assistant coach Bill Harrigan, as part of the general rotation of whistleblowers throughout the NRL season.

Harrigan rejected claims De Las Heras was dropped following a mixed night in charge of the St George Illawarra-North Queensland game at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.

Video referee Greame West wasn't so lucky and has been stood down from officiating in the NRL this weekend following some baffling decisions in the box in the Dragons-Cowboys game.

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