The Australian Rugby League has received backing from its Kiwi counterpart to keep little-known New Zealand whistleblower Glen Black away from Kangaroos games during the Tri-Nations series.

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr today said the NZRL would support their recommendation to the Rugby Football League to use Black for New Zealand-Great Britain Tri-Nations matches only.

Australia was far from impressed from reports that Christchurch-based Black - who has not officiated an NRL game, let alone a Test - would referee the Kangaroos' October 30 clash against Great Britain.

"Who is Mr Black?" Australian coach Wayne Bennett asked at their London base.

"That would be like us bringing somebody out of the (Queensland) State League and putting them in the Australian team.

"No disrespect to the referee but this is a different level of football.

"They leave themselves open to ridicule."

The case for Black's inclusion gathered momentum after the RFL wanted to use neutral referees for Tri-Nations matches.

However, Carr said the ARL and NZRL would recommend that leading NRL referee Tim Mander and England's Russell Smith officiate Kangaroos matches.

The ARL is still waiting for a response from the RFL which has only confirmed Smith for the Kangaroos' next Tri-Nations clash against New Zealand at London's Loftus Road on Saturday.

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