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The referees’ new decision-making process has failed miserably, and I’d like to see a major overhaul for the 2015 season.
League’s current ref system is just not working – the fans, players and even the officials themselves are not happy with it, and referees boss Tony Archer has some decisions to make in the off-season.
Not enough NRL games are being talked about for their excellence and the athletes who played, with post-match analysis instead dwelling on the competency of match officials.
The game’s administrators should spend a good deal of the summer break sorting out some obvious flaws which are developing into serious problems.
For starters, having two referees on the field is confusing for the players. Rulings between the main man and his ‘pocket’ assistant are inconsistent and are therefore impeding the flow of the games. The recent Rugby League World Cup got by very well with one man in control. Let’s get back to the one-man system, but make sure he has expert help when needed.
Video referees are fine, technology can really help all sports get more correct rulings, but one man up in the box will suffice and that video judge should be a former player. Luke Patten learnt his craft quickly and was on duty in all three Origin games this year.
Our refs have been encouraged to make ‘live decisions’ on movements that produce a try or no-try as they refer the ultimate decision to the video officials. If they think it’s a try, award it. If they think it’s not a try, disallow it. If they are in major doubt, by all means refer it to the video guys and let them decide. There are way too many grey areas as it now stands.
Special occasions might arise when the video ref feels the on-field referee has made a major error of judgement, such as Shayne Hayne disallowing David Nofoaluma’s try at Brookvale last Friday night. The video man should be allowed to urge the man on the ground to review the incident. It’s a bit messy, and maybe even embarrassing, but at least the right decision will be made.
I have one more gripe and it’s about touch judges. Seriously, are these guys earning their money? Almost every time a player dives over in the corner to plant the ball, the flag carrier shrugs his shoulders to indicate he didn’t get a good view, and that the decision should go upstairs.
These guys should be a lot more decisive. If they are up with the play they must have a bird’s eye view of the action. They should be urged to make a call more often than not.
I’ll now climb down from the soap box and leave it to the Roarers to fire in their views.
But before I finish, I’d like to declare the New Zealand Warriors are the genuine smokey of this year’s NRL competition.
A few months ago, they got hammered by the Sharks at Remondis Stadium and I described them as a basket case.
But since that day they have been pretty close to magnificent. Take a bow coach Andy McFadden – the turnaround of your Warriors has been amazing, especially the commitment in defence.
The New Zealand team has always been able to score a try, but McFadden has introduced a steely discipline to their system. Players are working hard for each other and the results are coming.
The Warriors have loads of quality players and a fast-building momentum. I can see them stringing together lots of wins between now and the end of the season.
They shape as a serious danger team for the competition big guns.
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