Updated: 6:26am – Top NRL whistleblower Gerard Sutton has beaten Matt Cecchin in the race to be appointed referee for the World Cup final.
Cecchin was at the centre of last weekend’s controversial end to the England-Tonga semi-final in Auckland.
Considered the best ref in the game, Cecchin came up with a correct last-minute split-second call to deny Andrew Fifita what would have been a match-winning try for Tonga.
He was tipped to control the decider between Australia and England in Brisbane on Saturday night.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf criticised Cecchin’s call not to refer the play to the video referee, but World Cup head of officiating Tony Archer later backed the decision.
“It was obviously a difficult decision to pick the referee for the [men’s] final after Matt Cecchin’s and Gerry’s excellent performances in the semi-finals and throughout the tournament but I’m confident were have chosen the right person to do job,” Archer said.
-RNZ
Featured image: Matt Cecchin Photo: PHOTOSPORT
