1. If he was the best ref available, why not? If you accept the premise that a ref is going to be biased towards his home country then where does it stop? Home state/county? Home city/suburb? Do we assume that a ref born in Blacktown (Western Sydney) is incapable of fairly governing a game between Cronulla and Penrith because one is desirable beachside and the other is (relatively lower socio-economic) western suburbs? Do fans from one side want to eliminate a ref from a Hull derby based on which side of the river he lives?

2. It's up to the RLIF to bring more 'neutral' refs into the game.
History has shown that the RFL and NRL do not consider recruiting and mentoring referees from outside their domain to be important - there's one Kiwi in the NRL (and he's barely first grade standard) and are there [iany[/i Welsh/Scots/French in the RFL at all? It's taken 105 years for the Aussies to get a couple of female touchies FFS. If the RLIF don't do it, it won't happen.

The most ridiculous thing about that is the suggestion of England football playing in a World Cup final.

Is it not also conceivable that a non-neutral referee, for the sake of his reputation on a 50/50 or close) call, could err in favour of the team that he is least perceived to have allegiance to?

That aside, think that Phil B is right out of the top drawer and can't recall too many favours being doled out to Leigh, nor should they be expected But we're speaking of an Aussie reffing Oz.

Anyone recall the story of Athers declining to "walk" in a Test Match down under? Accused of being a f***ing cheatin' ****, his reply (in that nasal Manc accent of his) was said to be "When in Rome, dear boy, when in Rome......"

What's happened to the Welsh referee James Jones?
Is he still on the scene?
Not that he's very high up, but if he's still about, he should be encouraged to set his sights as high as he can.

Gave up on it after this season.

I think this year's competition proved that "home" referees are very competent and capable of officiating regardless of who's playing (as do cricket umpires).