Ennis keen on NRL captain’s challenge
Roar Guru Canterbury skipper Michael Ennis says he would welcome the introduction of a captain’s challenge to the NRL as long as such a system was properly trialled first.
Under the instruction of the Rules Advisory Committee, the NRL will trial an NFL-based system in the round 26 National Youth Cup match between Manly and Gold Coast in which captains will be permitted to challenge a referee’s decision they believe to be incorrect.
Ennis said the introduction of such a system had merit.
“It will be interesting to see how it works,” Ennis said.
“I would want to get it right because Dessie (coach Des Hasler) would be up me if I got it wrong, it would be about picking the time. I haven’t really seen it through too many codes.
“I don’t doubt at some stage the coach will race a trainer out there for the challenge.
“I have heard arguments that people don’t want to slow the game down more. But on the other side of things we see so many controversial things each week about calls and referees, people probably want to get them right so it will give you an opportunity to get that right.”
Under the proposed system each team will be permitted one incorrect challenge per half, but there will be no limit on the number of occasions a captain can query a referee’s decision if the challenge is proven correct.
The Rules Advisory Committee which includes ARL Commission general manager of football Nathan McGuirk, ARL commissioner Wayne Pearce, NRL coaches Brian Smith and Ivan Cleary, former coaches Daniel Anderson and John Lang and former Australia captain Darren Lockyer, gave the green light to the trial on Tuesday.
Ennis said if the system proved to reduce refereeing errors it was worth implementing.
“They have to go through the right process,” Ennis said.
“I think throwing it straight into the competition without giving it a good run through like the trials or somewhere when there isn’t two points riding on it that is probably the best way to do it and that looks like what they are going to do.
“They have been pretty open about it by saying that they are going to give it a go in round 26 and by no means are they thinking of throwing it in straight away.
“They are just testing the waters at the moment.
“I don’t know how it is going to work, but they are willing to give it a shot and if it proves successful in the Toyota Cup, then maybe have a shot at it in the trials (next year) and see how it pans out.”
HOW THE NRL’S PROPOSED CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE SYSTEM WILL WORK
* Each team will be permitted one incorrect challenge per half
* Areas of challenge are likely to be limited to:
- A loss of possession (knock-on or strip) that leads to a structured restart (scrum or penalty)
- A decision that led to the ball going into touch or touch in-goal
- Any decision involving try, no-try or point scoring decisions made by on-field officials that were not previously referred to the video-referee
- A mandatory penalty (such as a member of the team in possession being offside and restart infringements).
The Crowd Says (20) | Page 1 of Comments
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August 16th 2012 @ 7:49am
steve b said | August 16th 2012 @ 7:49am | Report comment
Who cares what Ennis thinks about rules he brakes them all ,,just bring it in asap ,,it will work ,,And yes trial it pre comp so everyone is up to date with how it works ,then introduce it ,, lets not wait another season ..
August 16th 2012 @ 3:03pm
Damn Straight said | August 16th 2012 @ 3:03pm | Report comment
Dead right Stevo. Who gives a f*ck what Ennis thinks.
August 16th 2012 @ 8:10am
Mals said | August 16th 2012 @ 8:10am | Report comment
The areas of challenge look too broad to me. Try challenges & loss of possession challenges would be what I would limit it to.
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August 16th 2012 @ 9:00am
Jimbo Jones said | August 16th 2012 @ 9:00am | Report comment
It’s worth a shot, but it will be quite interesting to see how they are used by the teams.
If still in hand in the last 5 minutes of a tight match, will it be used as to get a breather if the team is struggling, or will it be used as a throw away (ie worth challenging in case they find something – as they sometimes do for the last wicket in cricket)? Can it be used after a line break to let the defence reset?
Worth trying to eliminate any shocking Ref’s calls, but maybe there are better options for the game and for fans –
ie go back to one ref, and minimal video ref usage to speed up the game – too many wrong calls?
or do you go to having the video ref watching for any foul play/mistakes and be able to talk to the ref to pull them up? potential for more stoppages
August 16th 2012 @ 10:51am
steve b said | August 16th 2012 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Honestly Jimbo i think we are at the stage now extra time due to stoppages is a given ,if coaches call is introduced ,but mate you would have to agree if the pink fellas can get more help to get it somewhere near right its got to be worth a few extra minutes ,,and yes i would love to see the video ref be able to add his bit during the game if he see’s it different than the on feild pinkies .Lets just get it close to as right as possible whatever the cost because two points is worth so much , and letting the players decide the result and not the refs has to be the way to go for the future of the game ..
August 16th 2012 @ 2:59pm
Damn Straight said | August 16th 2012 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
I agree Mals. Broadness or vagueness will open up a minefield of interpretational grey areas. For every new rule, you can bet that there will always be the unscrupulous who will twist the legalese and find a way to exploit the rule in their favour.
August 17th 2012 @ 12:41am
AndyMack said | August 17th 2012 @ 12:41am | Report comment
Who cares on what incident the captain chooses to use their challenge. Some will use it better than others, but if it gets the right call then so be it.
Everyone focuses on the wrong call in the last 5 mins of a game, but sometimes a momentum swinging wrong call with 30 mins to go when you are leading by 10 points is the game changer!!
August 16th 2012 @ 1:59pm
The Barry said | August 16th 2012 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
I think it will slow the game down….but more importantly there’s zero guarantee that the video ref will get it right. So why bother ? Just gives everyone an extra layer of officiating o whinge about.
It will also eventually be manipulated by coaches and captains to use challenges purely to disrupt the oppositions momentum.
August 16th 2012 @ 3:02pm
Damn Straight said | August 16th 2012 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
^ Precisely.
August 16th 2012 @ 6:08pm
steve b said | August 16th 2012 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
What a load of , anything is better than the way it is at the moment …
August 17th 2012 @ 1:08pm
The Barry said | August 17th 2012 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Fair enough steve I agree that the situation is dire but shouldn’t we be looking for the best solution not just ‘anything’ that’s better ?
The critical question is how do we improve the standard of refereeing on the field and in the video ref box not just adding another layer of inept officialdom over the top ?
The video ref adjudicating during stoppages in play will be the same bloke that has handed down any number of bewildering try decisions all season. Why will they be any better at judging on a strip or a knock on in general play than they are judging when a try has been scored ?
How many times have you watched a game with your mates and you’ve said “that was a strip” and your mates replied “pigs arse it was a poor carry” Who was right ? How will the video ref ever be ‘right’ in those situations ? They’re just opening themselves up to more criticism.
If you don’t think that coaches like Bellamy, Bennett, Hasler, Toovey, Sheens, Smith, etc will find a way to manipulate this rule then you’re kidding…it wasn’t that long ago that trainers were running out with razor blades to manipulate the blood bin.
August 17th 2012 @ 1:51pm
steve b said | August 17th 2012 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
Barry yes i think the video ref is running at about 75% in correct decisions ,, but would you like it better if we left it up to the pinkies ..We just have to make the system better ,on the strip rule no player should be allowed a hand in between the player and the ball ,this would cut down half the guess work ,,and nine times out of ten if you watch the replay you can see the hand strip the ball or whether the player just lost control ,,and a simple button in the coaches box with a ten second time to press ,for coaches call would be all thats needed ,and only on call they deem bad by the ref not in the run of play..How bloody easy would it be everyone is reading to much into it ,and if they get it wrong thats it no more….
August 17th 2012 @ 2:18pm
Dogs Of War said | August 17th 2012 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
Where are you pulling this 75% stat from?
97% is the success rate.
“The video referee mistake rate is on par with last year,” Harrigan said.
“It is running at 97 per cent (correct decisions). I would still like that to be better. I have always said I can live with anything under a 3 per cent mistake rate.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/video-referee-sean-hampstead-stood-down-by-nrl-due-to-errors/story-e6frexnr-1226373011121
It just as fans we focus on errors that are game changing, and don’t notice when they get it right.
August 17th 2012 @ 2:34pm
steve b said | August 17th 2012 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
That was my opinion not a stat ,,Geez better than i gave em credit for lol …..
August 17th 2012 @ 1:45pm
The Barry said | August 17th 2012 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
Two minutes to go. Your team is down by 4 but have had all the ball and all the momentum. The defensive line is in tatters, the opposition is on the ropes. A try is imminent – the just need to spread the ball wide. Three man overlap out there.
Opposition captain (say Ennis or Lyon or Anasta) calls a completely fatuous callenge claiming a dropped ball in the tacklevideo ref decision because he hasn’t used his challenge yet. Ref calls time off. Video ref has a couple of looks to make sure. Only 30 second delay but long enough for the defensive team to regroup, reset their defensive line and get a breather.
Is that really good for the game ?
August 17th 2012 @ 2:16pm
steve b said | August 17th 2012 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
As i said not in the run of play and only a call they deem incorrect by the ref ,,Call it the challenge system !!
August 17th 2012 @ 2:16pm
Dogs Of War said | August 17th 2012 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
But would it happen that way? If the ball is already in play, I would expect that they would wait for the next break in place (ie next play the ball or something). Is the captains/coaches challenge expected to be used that way?
Once a trial is underway, what works and what doesn’t can be analysed. So situations like you presented may not be challengeable (like it is currently), while scoring opportunities or penalty offences may be items which as their is a natural break in play, should be.
August 17th 2012 @ 2:43pm
steve b said | August 17th 2012 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Their is a rough guide at the top of the page , but thats how i think it would work !!
August 21st 2012 @ 10:33am
Meesta Cool said | August 21st 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
The Barry, this is happening right now, Captains are fronting the ref as often as possible to slow down the game, — this is what must be stopped!.
August 18th 2012 @ 10:20am
Dogs Of War said | August 18th 2012 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Ok from watching the Bulldogs vs Tigers match, and going off the criteria above, discounting anything that was referred to the Video Ref automatically (lets just suggest that they were all challenged).
Their were only 2 other points in the game that would have been challenged.
12th Minute Pritchard was stripped off the ball in a 3 man tackle. It was ruled knock on. Video suggests otherwise.
29th Minute Jackson going for the line. Ball was knocked out by the Tigers defender. It was ruled knock on. It would have been challenged for sure especially given where the Dogs were on the field.
Actually what would have been interesting, is that the Tigers had 2 tries disallowed in the game in the second half. Both would have been challenged, which lets say you 2 get challenges per half, it would have meant that the Tigers could NOT have challenged the obstruction try (Lets not get into that, it has it’s own article to discuss it in depth). It would have been a major discussion point after the game, but that said, it is anyway.
Would love others to pay attention to games this weekend and using the criteria in the article, do a similar thing and post the results here. Be fair to both teams, and if in doubt, put it down a possible challenge area.