Those were before my time but my Aussie mate has plenty of stories about Greg Hartley keeping getting appointed to big games and making controversial decisions that helped Manly. At the time Manly were the cashed up team that everyone hated and thought had too much influence over the game.

The other controversial one was the ref they called The Grasshopper who reffed a number of Origin games and NSW fans thought he was against them.

Jack Gibson at Eels certainly did not get on with Hartley (see Aussie R.L . History on u tube)

I'd imagine there are actually quite a few people who could do a better job of administering British RL than the RFL have done over the years.

Did not do so bad when Uncle Mo was in charge.

The introduction of the Super League, Summer Rugby, not to mention the Sky Contract!

Some people have short memories or are to young to remember.

Have a search on YouTube for a documentary called "The Fibros and the The Silvertails"
Really good Documentary - Certainly touches on how the game in OZ (And the UK) was in the mid 70's and what the Aussies did to change it around and why.
And probably we were 10years behind in doing it

Barry Gomersal(aka Grasshopper) when asked about his SOS refereeing of 9 matches in which NSW won only 2 responded by saying that any ref could have 2 bad matches and when further asked about his reaction to NSW detractors responded....

"It's mind over matter- I don't mind and they don't matter".