Rugby League Ashes coaches debate referee rulings as England boss fires back at Willie Peters comments

Following the announcement of both the referees in the upcoming Rugby League Ashes series, there has been plenty of talk as to how the three Tests will be officiated.

Anyone who has watched both Super League and the NRL will know that matches are refereed differently, with the Australian ruck speed considerably quicker than the ruck over here. There are also slightly different interpretations of rules, such as offside. In Super League, both feet have to be behind the referee’s line, whilst in the NRL only one foot is needed.

This has caused a lot of speculation over which set of rules will be played, and more importantly, will the same set of rules be applied for all three matches.

The answer to that question is that English rules will be in operation, for the whole series, and it is something that the Kangaroos players have already been practicing.

Australia coach Kevin Walters has already vowed that officials and rulings won’t be a factor in any result over the next month, with him revealing in a press conference this week that he learned very young to never blame the referee.

Asked if he had any doubt over the referee selection, the former Queensland boss said during Tuesday’s Wembley press conference: “My father taught me from a very young age not to ever use the referee as an excuse for your performance, and that will be the case for our boys on Saturday.

Hull KR boss Willie Peters, who is an assistant coach for the Kangaroos this series, added his thoughts earlier this week, too, implying that a quicker ruck was needed as opposed to the slower speed seen in Super League.

He said:  “However it’s going to be refereed, it’s gotta be the same… if a team finds their front, you should be rewarded for that”.

Kangaroos referee talk fires up England Rugby League boss ahead of Ashes series

The comments from both Peters and Walters have lit a spark in the belly of England boss Shaun Wane, with the former Wigan Warriors coach biting back at the statements made. The 61-year-old believes that the referee appointment should not even be a talking point, and given the fact the series is being held in England, the Aussies should have no qualms over Super League rules being the ones followed.

In an interview with NRL.com earlier this week, Wane responded to the opposition coaches’ comments, revealing that he would be ‘incredibly furious’ if the Kangaroos had spoken to the RFL over trying to change the way the rules will be enforced, with slower ruck speed seen as a disadvantage to the fast-paced Australian attack.

He said: “It’s our competition, it’s over here! I wouldn’t go to Australia and play an Ashes and expect our rules. It’s their rules. That’s the way it should be.

“At this late stage… I’d want to be told weeks and weeks ago so I can fix things in training, make sure that we’re on it. There’s nothing that’s been mentioned to me.

“We’ve got an English referee – it’s going to be refereed similar to the [Super League] Grand Final.”