For England’s Rugby League players, Saturday was an enormous occasion.
Having never won a World Cup, this was the opportunity to write history as they faced Australia in the final in Brisbane.
Obviously, overcoming the Aussie team was never going to be straightforward for Wayne Bennett’s side. The reigning world champions, The Kangaroos were the pre-tournament favourites. There was no doubt about it that England would have to be at their best.
With all those factors considered, many of those tuning in for the BBC One coverage of the game on Saturday morning – be it fans of the sport or not – expressed their surprise that a game of such magnitude was being refereed by Gerard Sutton, an Australian. Some even went as far as suggesting that this might have had an influence on some of his decision making…
This is bollocks lol sums up Australia that a final in Australia, involving Australia, has an Australian referee??? 😂😂😂
— Ben Jones (@BenwyneJones) December 2, 2017
Aussie ref at it…
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) December 2, 2017
Away in Australia, against Australia with and Australian referee 🤔🤔 sounds about right
— Nick Gregson (@nickgregson13) December 2, 2017
A lot of high shots not getting called against Australia by the Aussie ref
🙄🙄
— CJ (@LaurensRage) December 2, 2017
Not sure about this Aussie ref. Looked like a forward pass on the try to me.
— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) December 2, 2017
Clear bias from the Aussie ref in the world cup in Australia towards the Aussies. #RLWC2017
— Dyso (@Dyso86) December 2, 2017
How is the ref Australian in this final when Australia are playing !!!!
— scobie watts (@watts_steven) December 2, 2017
How after all these years do they still have Australian Referee’s in International games involving Australia, clear head tackle against @England_RL no action head tackle by Eng, penalty, why o why.
— Jim Mills (@millsjim44) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/rjsh11/status/936889883070627840
