The New Zealand rugby league referee Leon Williamson has been appointed to control the Four Nations final as the embarrassing stalemate over who should referee the Australia-England clash came to a predictable end.
Williams, who has never refereed at NRL or Super League level, has been named ahead of Australia's referee of the year Shayne Hayne and England's Steve Ganson for Sunsday's match in Leeds.
The 40-year-old Aucklander Williamson has controlled two matches at the tournament.
Rugby League International Federation officials had intended to announce the referee for the clash last weekend.
But problems arose when referees bosses from Australia, England and New Zealand selected their own official, with Australia protesting against the possible appointment of Ganson after he was given the Australia-England match earlier in the tournament.
