Rugby league supporters have questioned the decision to appoint an Australian referee for the World Cup final between the Kangaroos and New Zealand, insisting a match of such importance should be handled by a neutral officiating team.
Australian official Grant Atkins will take charge of Sunday’s trans-Tasman decider at Suncorp Stadium, while Wyatt Raymond has been appointed video referee.
The choice has sparked criticism from fans who believe English officials should have been selected instead, given the potential perception of bias when Australia are involved.
‘In a World Cup game, why is an Australian reffing the game when Australia are playing?’ one supporter asked.
Another fan argued that every key officiating position should be filled by neutrals.
‘Kiwis and Kangaroos will play [the] grand final so bring in a neutral referee, linesmen and bunker from England to allow fairness in the game,’ they wrote.
The appointment of an Australian referee has come under scrutiny after officials faced intense criticism during the Kangaroos’ 44-12 semi-final win over Samoa. Pictured: referee Adam Gee speaks to Samoa’s Jarome Luai
Shaun Johnson praised Australia’s performance but argued Samoa had not received ‘the rub of the green’
Australian referee Grant Atkins, pictured, will oversee Sunday’s World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium
Several others suggested the leading officials from England’s Super League should be given the responsibility, naming Chris Kendall and Liam Moore as possible alternatives.
Atkins secured the appointment after refereeing New Zealand’s 34-10 semi-final victory over Tonga. News Corp reports that he has officiated 343 NRL matches.
His selection comes as debate continues over the standard of officiating following Australia’s victory over Samoa, a match that featured two controversial disallowed tries and a sin-binning for Spencer Leniu after he argued with officials.
Former New Zealand halfback Shaun Johnson praised Australia’s display but expressed strong reservations about several decisions made during the match.
‘I can’t help but have this frustration around how the game was officiated,’ Johnson said on Sky Sport.
‘I feel like [Australian referee] Adam Gee, he got calls wrong and he was confusing in some of his calls. He gave Australia the rub of the green tonight; they just got every little call and he wasn’t supported by the bunker, Chris Butler, either. I feel like Samoa, they were hard done by.’
Johnson later reinforced his stance in a social media video, opening with the line: ‘Firstly, I want to start by apologising. To absolutely nobody.’
Despite Australia’s emphatic win over Samoa, some supporters have called for a neutral English referee to control Sunday’s final
Johnson said Samoa suffered from several contentious decisions while acknowledging Australia’s impressive performance
The former Warriors star rejected any suggestion that he had attributed Samoa’s heavy defeat solely to the match officials and said he stood by his criticism.
Johnson maintained that Samoa had been on the wrong side of a number of calls, while also stressing that Australia deserved full credit for the way they played.
‘I stick by my comments post-game. I wholeheartedly think Samoa didn’t get the rub of the green. I think Australia were unbelievable,’ he said.
‘I thought they played an exceptional game of footy, and it is going to make for an unbelievable grand final this week, which I’m going to be working on.’
The officiating controversy began in the opening half when Samoa’s Stephen Crichton was denied a try after video referee Chris Butler concluded that Francis Manuleleua had knocked the ball into the path of Australia’s full-back Reece Walsh.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson disagreed with the decision while appearing on Seven’s broadcast.
‘It’s clearly a knock back,’ Robinson said.
Samoa were denied another four-pointer after halftime when Gee ruled that Manuleleua had obstructed Liam Martin, a decision later upheld by Butler.
Australia and New Zealand will meet again in the final after the Kangaroos edged the Kiwis 24-22 in the tournament opener
Johnson branded the ruling ‘diabolical’ during the live coverage.
Samoa captain Jarome Luai also raised concerns about the refereeing after the defeat, although he accepted that his team’s lack of discipline had played a part.
‘We didn’t get many calls that first half, got one sent to the bin,’ Luai told Triple M.
‘Previous games I thought Adam Gee had been reffing really well but that was completely different tonight. I’m not saying it was his fault, it was probably discipline on our behalf.’
Samoa ended the match with a 9-4 disadvantage in the penalty count, while Leniu’s reaction earned him a suspension that will carry into the 2026 NRL season.
The Parramatta recruit accepted a two-game ban for contrary conduct after making a money gesture towards the officials as he walked towards the tunnel following his sin-binning.
As a result, Leniu will miss Parramatta’s first two matches of next season, including the club’s Las Vegas fixture against Gold Coast.