England outvoted over referee

[josie andrews]

England were outvoted over the appointment of Australian Gerard Sutton for Sunday's crucial Four Nations clash in Melbourne, it has emerged.

Sutton will take charge of Australia's must-win round two game against England after four hours of debate between the match officials directors of all three major countries was finally resolved by a show of hands.

New Zealand referee Henry Perenara was the logical choice to take charge of the Australia-England game but Jon Sharp, the Rugby Football League's match officials director, said that the tournament is not based on neutral appointments and instead follows on from the philosophy set in latter stages of the 2013 World Cup - going with the best man for the job.

"The appointment of Gerry Sutton was made following four hours of debate and it finally came down to being outvoted," Sharp said.

Perenara will be in charge of the Kiwis' clash with Samoa in Wharangei on Saturday, with England's Phil Bentham inactive this weekend.

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... 9539091/-?

[Owd Codger]

England were outvoted over the appointment of Australian Gerard Sutton for Sunday's crucial Four Nations clash in Melbourne, it has emerged.

Sutton will take charge of Australia's must-win round two game against England after four hours of debate between the match officials directors of all three major countries was finally resolved by a show of hands.

New Zealand referee Henry Perenara was the logical choice to take charge of the Australia-England game but Jon Sharp, the Rugby Football League's match officials director, said that the tournament is not based on neutral appointments and instead follows on from the philosophy set in latter stages of the 2013 World Cup - going with the best man for the job.



"The appointment of Gerry Sutton was made following four hours of debate and it finally came down to being outvoted," Sharp said.

Perenara will be in charge of the Kiwis' clash with Samoa in Wharangei on Saturday, with England's Phil Bentham inactive this weekend.

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... 9539091/-?

There should be no voting, just having a neutral referee like in other International Sport!

[si_bax]

just seems to me like the powers that be are worried about Australia not making the final

[OAMJSONA]

just watch how many penalties nad forward passes he gives against us

[Wiganer Ted]

Time for Nigel Wood to stand up and be counted.
This has been going on for decades.
One of the first things he should do is disband the "appointments committee" and replace it with each nation submitting one referee from their country to referee neutrally throughout the tournament.

With this being a must win for the Aussies and an Aussie referee being appointed to assist them in doing so it leaves our lads with two chances of winning, fat chance and no chance!

[cpwigan]

These appointments for this phase should have been set in stone months ago with only injury forcing change.

[sc74]

And we thought the RFL was corrupt. 4 hours of debate and they get out-voted.
They should have threatened to boycott the game if they feel so strongly about it.
IMO people need to start standing up and saying 'no' for a change. But then society seems to have softened over the past few decades and one no longer likes to rock the boat.
Good luck, they're going to need it. Hopefully our very own JC can produce some magic.

[cpwigan]

I still think we can beat the Aussies!!!

[josie andrews]

Cummings attacks Four Nations board on ref choices

Former Super League referee and former director of match officials Stuart Cummings has launched a scathing attack on the Four Nations board after their controversial refereeing selections this weekend – stating that “we have gone backwards” in terms of appointing match officials.

Cummings was on the three-man panel that oversaw the match official appointments at last year’s World Cup – a tournament that had a neutral referee in every single game that took place across the entirety of the tournament.

http://www.totalrl.com/cummings-attacks ... -choices/?

[Owd Codger]

Cummings attacks Four Nations board on ref choices

Former Super League referee and former director of match officials Stuart Cummings has launched a scathing attack on the Four Nations board after their controversial refereeing selections this weekend – stating that “we have gone backwards” in terms of appointing match officials.

Cummings was on the three-man panel that oversaw the match official appointments at last year’s World Cup – a tournament that had a neutral referee in every single game that took place across the entirety of the tournament.

http://www.totalrl.com/cummings-attacks ... -choices/?

And I called Cummings when he was in charge of referee's looks like he was not so bad after all.

Well done Stuart!