So here we are again. Can someone please explain why the RLIF persist with this policy of not appointing neutral referees for internationals? Anyone? Bowing down the the NRL aside?

I don't think for a moment refs are deliberately dodgy in anyway, but unconscious bias when making split-second decisions is something you simply can't avoid. That game had plenty of examples of decisions tipping the way of Australia and not going for England, and imo it devalues their win and the tournament.

I'm not claiming we would have won with a neutral ref - our execution was poor in crucial positions - but the point is to at least remove all semblance of doubt and put both teams on a truly neutral playing field. In such a tight game, a couple of incorrect calls perhaps unconsciously influenced by a lifetime of supporting Australia in RL, RU, football, cricket, Athletics, singing Australia Fair, etc...will swing it.

A neutral referee might not be the 'best' referee in the world...but at least it's fair.

Sort it out. It taints the entire competition.

agree, particualrly was an issue when we had the aussie ref give a try on field and the English video ref said no try. Correct decision was made, but obstructions in particular can be hard to judge and as you say we shouldent be even questioning the referees neutrality.

I disagree, but understand your logic.
For me it's his job and he will do his best to become the best in the World just like our coaches and players.
I don't think there's anything given or not given on the field unprofessionally.. not even by accident.

In that case, You could almost argue Bennett coached us to lose against his home Country OR didn't put his best effort in to tactically beat them.

We and the Aussies are booth as guilty for not helping to develop neutral referees.
We need to bring over some young French refs and the Aussies need to over some young kiwi refs.

Whilst I agree, I don't think the ref was too bad today. A bigger priority should be introducing two refs in SL, so the international games can be reffed the same as at club level. I also think it'd improve the product on field in SL as well.

We can agree to disagree whether some form of unconscious bias comes into play...although it seems I'll be long dead in my grave when Aaron Woods concedes a knock-on.

I'm not questioning their intent - what I'm really looking for is removal of all doubt.

Social media is full of people questioning why an Aussie ref is officiating Australia, playing in Australia, in a World Cup final. A man who undoubtedly has a lifetime of singing Australia Fair and supporting Australia at whatever they compete in, on the edge of his seat just as we were this morning. It's just plain stupid and for me it devalues their win.

There's a massive doubt.
He was probably singing 'God Save our German Queen' up until 1984.

No way do we need more refs. The game is becoming to sterile. Ref mistakes are part of the game as are player mistakes.

What happened to the Kiwi ref they used in previous comps? Albert should be developing French refs.

It's not about reducing mistakes, it's about improving the play the ball.

For the love of God have neutral refs, it's ridiculous. Can you imagine England football playing a world cup final against Germany, with a German ref?

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.

I'd tend to agree with this.

Whilst I wouldn't question the integrity of any ref, this is one of those "we really don't help ourselves, do we?" sort of scenarios.

Why is it so difficult to introduce more French officials into Super League, or more New Zealand or South Sea Island officials into the NRL - they must surely exist?

Perhaps there are the same problems with referee shortages in other countries - I wouldn't be surprised.

The problem with this though is that there are probably far too few people wanting to be an RL referee in England or Australia, never mind outside of those.

And to have a referee up to the required standard for a World Cup Final, they would need to be working in the top leagues around the world - and where are the top leagues? England and Australia.

So unless there is ever a time when neither of these two teams are in a final, we are always going to struggle to get the calibre of ref required that isn't from one of these countries.

It also puts the referee in a pretty horrible position.