League: Kiwis deny ref disadvantage

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. Photo / Getty Images

Ahead of the series-deciding test on the weekend, it feels like the first physiological battle has been won by the English rugby league.

Local referee Ben Thaler appointed to the fixture, despite his indifferent performance in the first test.

The New Zealand side seemed to struggled with his interpretations - particularly around the ruck, which were different to what they usually encounter in the NRL. They were also on the wrong end of a heavy penalty count, those that was more down to the constant pressure they were under than any decisions by Thaler.

However, there is no doubt the Kiwis looked more comfortable last week at the Olympic stadium, with the second test controlled by Gerard Sutton, who was in charge of the 2015 NRL Grand final. They got the balance right around the ruck, between the dominant tackle and holding down for too long - and seemed more capable of anticipating the referee's calls.

However, the Kiwis camp is dismissing suggestions that the appointment is an advantage to England.

"In the first test he wasn't [a factor] for the first half hour," said Kearney. "He wasn't an issue for the next 50 minutes either. We had the issue in the sense that we didn't perform well. It doesn't bother me; we just have to get the job done."

"If we play well it won't matter who the referee is," added Kearney. "[The second test result] wasn't to do with the referee, it was more about the attitude that the lads took into this contest."

Senior Kiwis player Jason Nightingale agreed with his coaches' sentiments.

"It's always easy to be bemused [by decisions] when you are behind," said Nightingale. "When we were in front we were happy. They are professional referees, their jobs are on the line and their credibility is on the line.

However, the appointment of Thaler doesn't follow the pattern of recent times.

League, unlike rugby, doesn't have a large pool of international referees, but most of the recent fixtures between the Kiwis and England have been controlled by neutral officials.

Australia's Tony Archer controlled all three tests of the 2007 series and a Frenchman was in the middle for their clash in the 2009 Four Nations. Matt Ceechin refereed their encounter in 2011 in Hull and Ben Cummins (Australia) had the whistle for the 2013 World Cup semi-final. However, Phil Bentham was appointed referee of their clash in Dunedin last year, during a tournament which saw several non-neutral appointments.

The referees in this series are appointed by a three-man panel, comprised of a representative from England, New Zealand and France.

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