By Wayne Heming
November 14th 2008 @ 2:23am
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Two referees for NRL games a step closer
An NRL forum has recommended introducing the use of two on-field referees in matches from next season. The NRL’s annual football conference in Sydney yesterday, attended by former and current coaches, players, referees, board members, and administrators, supported the two-referee proposal.
They also supported scrapping the use of the video official to rule on ball stripping and taking stronger action against grapple tackles.
And they favoured a proposal to reduce the number of interchanges from the 2010 season.
On the judiciary front there was agreement that a players’ carry over points should be reduced by five points with each week he competes without another charge.
The forum is only an advisory body and final recommendations must be determined by NRL management, the NRL Board and, in the case of actual rule changes, the Australian Rugby league and Rugby League International Federation.
This year’s season saw the NRL introduce a comprehensive trial of a two referee model in the closing stages of the Toyota Cup competition for Under 20s players.
While there was some debate about whether a trial should be continued further in Toyota Cup, 58 per cent of people attending yesterday’s forum were in favour of using two referees in the NRL, 17 per cent did not have a strong view on the issue and 25 per cent were opposed.
The presence of an extra referee added further weight to a view that video referees should no longer adjudicate on stripping penalties.
The decision to remove video referees from this area was overwhelming with 83 per centvoting to change the rule.
“It was a chance to gauge the opinions of those at the game’s coal-face and it was a really positive process,” said NRL chief executive David Gallop.
“This isn’t a democracy and the votes do not determine final outcomes.
“But they do provide us with critical input in making decisions.”
ISSUES VOTED ON YESTERDAY:
1. Remove video referee from adjudicating on stripping rule
Change: 83%
No strong view: 9%
Dont Change: 8%2. Remove video referee from adjudicating on foul play
Change: 40%
No strong view: 19%
Dont Change: 41%3. Move to two on-field referees
Change: 58%
No strong view: 17%
Dont Change: 25%4. Referees and Judiciary to take stronger action against grapple tackles
Change: 81%
No strong view: 14%
Dont Change: 5%5. Reduce Interchange numbers in 2010 season
Change: 56%
No strong view: 7%
Dont Change: 37%6. Experimental rule setting all tap re-starts 20m in from touch
Change: 14%
No strong view: 36%
Dont Change: 50%7. Introduce further measures to reduce time wasting at scrums
Change: 80%
No strong view: 8%
Dont Change: 12%8. Referees to look at providing more leniency to markers in the play the ball
Change: 36%
No strong view: 18%
Dont Change: 46%9. Review Dominant Tackle call
Change: 18%
No strong view: 13%
Dont Change: 69%10. Review current obstruction rule
Change: 6%
No strong view: 1%
Dont Change: 93%11. Passive off-side - should the video referee have more discretion in judging whether a player within 10m of the receiver of a kick has interfered with play and incurred a penalty?
Change: 40%
No strong view: 6%
Don’t Change: 54%The issues identified as being most important to the on-field game were:
Use of the video referee
Introduction of two referees
Grappling/wrestling
Interchange
Time Wasting
Markers
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Matt said | November 14th 2008 @ 7:23am | Report comment
The two Refs is an interesting idea that should allow a closer eye on key areas of the game. It should have the affect of discouraging cheating, because there it is twice as likely you’ll get caught. It also will allow for less annoying stopages for Vidoe Ref decisions too.
Now, as a predominantly Union follower, I wouldn’t mind it if the IRB took a similar approach to introducing a second ref into professional games. It is obvious that sport at the social and amateur level are far slower and easier to ref well than at the pro level. So, instead of changing the rules for the entire sport (as Union has done with the ELV’s) as a means of improving the pro level of the game. Why not just look at additions that can be made to the pro game that don’t alter it from the amateur game?
The use of two refs means that one can watch the defensive team for things like:
Offside line
Legality of the tackle - High/late, Grapple (League).
Plus watching the defending team in the ruck (Union).
The other ref can keep an eye of the attacking team for things like:
Obstruction
Play of the ball (league)
Forward passes
Inside the 10m on kicks (League)
Plus watching the attacking team in the ruck (Union).
The idea of two refs means that, if they are all trained to watch for the same thing then the game should be played with less sly cheating and the pushing of the boundaries which the pro guys get away with in order to slow the game down etc. Great work NRL!! I hope this idea works.
Rabbitz said | November 14th 2008 @ 7:46am | Report comment
My concern with having two refs is more of a logistic rather than a practical nature.
Let me say that I believe that a trial of two refs is a good idea and should be implemented.
However, given that the NRL can not find enough competent refs to provide ONE for each match, where, oh where, are they going to find TWO competent refs per game?
Brett McKay said | November 14th 2008 @ 9:18am | Report comment
I think the two refs is a good idea, and should work well. Having played a fair bit of Touch to a reasonable level in my younger, fitter, faster days, often with two refs on field (and sometimes a third interchange ref), it will certainly allow a faster game.
That said, I’m not sure that a faster game will move us too far away from the current robotic, predictable style of play that the NRL has become.
I’ve long held the opinion that the simplest way to change the game would be to learn from rugby and cricket, and introduce bonus points. Simply, 4pts for a win, and then bonus points for x number of tries, for keeping a clean defensive sheet, and also for losing by less than y.
Without changing any current rules, bonus points would instantly put more emphasis on attack, while also rewarding defence. It would have to open the game up more than what we’re seeing currently..