The former New Zealand coach Graham Lowe says Ricky Stuart's response to the Kiwis' shock Rugby League World Cup win has tarnished Australian sport as much as Trevor Chappell's under-arm delivery did 27 years ago.
An independent investigation has been ordered by the International Rugby League Federation into a complaint about the Australian coach's behaviour towards referee Ashley Klein.
Stuart coach allegedly abused Klein at the Australian team's hotel the morning after the final.
Stuart was angry over a number of refereeing decisions made by Klein and the English video referee Steve Ganson, including a crucial penalty try ruling in the second half.
Lowe says Stuart's comments that the results had been the result competition organisers wanted were deeply offensive and tarnished the image of Australian sport to the same degree as cricket's under arm incident.
