The Rugby Football League have accused the New Zealand Rugby League of “double standards” after NZ chairman Andrew Chalmers said the RFL did not care about player welfare.

The row comes after Great Britain prop Adrian Morley was cleared to play in Saturday’s first Test despite being placed on report for a high tackle in last week’s Centenary International.

Chalmers was also unhappy that a second dangerous tackle from Morley was not even looked at by the disciplinary panel, claiming that the Warrington prop should miss the whole series.

However, the RFL reminded the NZRL that in 2005 Nigel Vagana was given only a one-match ban despite inflicting horrific injury on Paul Deacon in the Gillette Tri-Nations.

"We believe the comments by the New Zealand camp are completely inappropriate and unwarranted," said new RFL chief executive Nigel Wood.

"It seems to us that they are a deliberate and predictable attempt to influence how Great Britain players are dealt with and viewed by the match officials during the Test Series and to aggravate Adrian and his fellow squad members.

"We believe the New Zealanders are guilty of double standards."

"Many people will recall the incident in 2005 in which Paul Deacon sustained a horrendous injury and also incidents from last year's Tri-Nations match involving the Kiwi player Steve Matai."

Deacon suffered a triple face fracture and had to under major facial surgery.

Great Britain assistant coach Steve McNamara said that Chalmers’ comments would “fire up” the players head of that opening Test match.

"The lads are angry at what the Kiwis have come out with and have all rallied around Mozza [Morley]," he said. "I think it might backfire on them as the lads are fired up more than ever for Saturday.

"The Kiwis realise that our pack, including Adrian, will give them a lot of trouble on Saturday and they're hoping that these remarks might provoke some sort of reaction which could result in a player getting sent off.

"It's disappointing that they've resorted to these tactics. We'll just let our rugby do the talking on Saturday and leave them to the mind games."