Former Super League referee Russell Smith has been placed in temporary charge of officials in Australia's National Rugby League.

Smith, who emigrated from Castleford, will assume the role of interim manager of the NRL referees department following the departure of co-coaches Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper.

The pair have paid the price for a series of controversial officiating decisions throughout the season, with the ARL Commission now on the lookout for replacements.

"Bill and Stuart have been part of a dual coaching structure and it is time to move to a new model," said general manager of football operations Nathan McGuirk in a statement.