Stuart faces abuse probe

Stuart: Investigation

We didn't play our best game but we weren't that bad. It was a bit of a stitch-up, I thought, in some decisions.

Paul Gallen
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Australia coach Ricky Stuart faces an investigation for allegedly verbally abusing World Cup final referee Ashley Klein and RFL official Stuart Cummings in the aftermath of New Zealand's shock win over the Kangaroos.

Stuart reportedly bumped into Klein and RFL director of referees Cummings in the foyer of their Brisbane hotel, the morning after the Kiwis had stunned the world by ending Australia's 33-year World Cup stranglehold.

The Kangaroos coach is then thought to have launched a verbal tirade at the duo, with a complaint against Stuart will now be investigated by Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) chairman Colin Love.

Stuart was thought to be furious at a number of refereeing decisions during the final and also at the appointment of the Super League-based Klein for the big game.

Favourites

Australia were huge favourites to lift the World Cup again after thumping everyone en route to the final, but after the shock loss Stuart is also reported to have clashed with ARL chief executive and close friend Geoff Carr on the field at full-time.

"Me and Ricky are good mates and I have a lot of respect for Ricky and how he handled himself last night," Carr told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Ricky needed to blow off some steam, he needed to get it out there. He was very emotional, but I am not going to talk about what we discussed.

"He was very, very emotional after the game because he puts his heart and soul into the game and into the team and it was good for him to come to me and have the opportunity to get everything off his chest."

Conspiracy thoery

Stuart's clash with Carr was over a conspiracy theory that tournament organisers thought a shock winner was good for the World Cup.

A controversial penalty try awarded by video referee Steve Ganson is the major focus of those theories and although Stuart has not commented, Cronulla and Australia loose forward Paul Gallen did voice his displeasure in an Australian TV interview.

"It was terrible, to be honest," Gallen said on Channel Nine.

"We knew we were going to have to play bad to be beaten. We didn't play our best game but we weren't that bad.

"It was a bit of a stitch-up, I thought, in some decisions."

The RLIF are now preparing to investigate the incoming complaint, but it could take weeks with England officials heading back home and Australia's on holiday.

Stuart did not comment on the reports on Monday.