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A furious refereeing row is threatening to overshadow the build-up to Saturday's Gillette Tri-Nations clash between Great Britain and Australia.
Britain drew first blood in the Ashes battle when they won the right to appoint New Zealander Glen Black for the first of two Anglo-Australian battles.
The appointment is in line with International Federation policy to use neutral referees wherever possible but the Australians objected strongly to the choice of Black, who operates in New Zealand's domestic league.
The Kangaroos suggested a compromise solution of using Australia's Tim Mander and Britain's Russell Smith in the two Anglo-Aussie encounters.
The matter was finally resolved this morning after three days of talks between representatives of the three nations when Australia were out-voted two to one but the row looks set to rumble on.
"He's a Bartercard Cup referee, which is the equivalent to park football in Australia," said Australia Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr. "He won't be able to control the 10 metres or the ruck.
"We agree with neutral referees in principle when the referees are up to standard but Glen Black, as you saw last night, is not up to this game."
Black was brought over to officiate in Super League this summer and refereed Wednesday night's tour match between Cumbria and a combined Australia-New Zealand side.
Mander will now referee Great Britain's two matches against New Zealand while Black is expected to take charge of the second Anglo-Aussie clash at Wigan on November 13, although that could yet change.
"As far as were concerned, if he struggles as much as we anticipate, the committee is going to have to review it," warned Carr.
The full match officials team for the game is as follows:
Referee: Glen Black (NZ)
Touch Judges: Paul Johnson and Tony Martin
Reserve referee: Karl Kirkpatrick
Interchange Official: Stuart Marshall
Video Referee: Dave Campbell
Match Commissioner: Geoff Berry
Britain drew first blood in the Ashes battle when they won the right to appoint New Zealander Glen Black for the first of two Anglo-Australian battles.
The appointment is in line with International Federation policy to use neutral referees wherever possible but the Australians objected strongly to the choice of Black, who operates in New Zealand's domestic league.
The Kangaroos suggested a compromise solution of using Australia's Tim Mander and Britain's Russell Smith in the two Anglo-Aussie encounters.
The matter was finally resolved this morning after three days of talks between representatives of the three nations when Australia were out-voted two to one but the row looks set to rumble on.
"He's a Bartercard Cup referee, which is the equivalent to park football in Australia," said Australia Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr. "He won't be able to control the 10 metres or the ruck.
"We agree with neutral referees in principle when the referees are up to standard but Glen Black, as you saw last night, is not up to this game."
Black was brought over to officiate in Super League this summer and refereed Wednesday night's tour match between Cumbria and a combined Australia-New Zealand side.
Mander will now referee Great Britain's two matches against New Zealand while Black is expected to take charge of the second Anglo-Aussie clash at Wigan on November 13, although that could yet change.
"As far as were concerned, if he struggles as much as we anticipate, the committee is going to have to review it," warned Carr.
The full match officials team for the game is as follows:
Referee: Glen Black (NZ)
Touch Judges: Paul Johnson and Tony Martin
Reserve referee: Karl Kirkpatrick
Interchange Official: Stuart Marshall
Video Referee: Dave Campbell
Match Commissioner: Geoff Berry
