After 24 rounds of the National Rugby League premiership of 2012, we have two referees on the field and a video referee sitting up in the grandstand with countless camera angles.
However, why has referee’s boss Bill Harrigan come out to admit his referees, some regarded as the best in the world, made the wrong call.
On Monday night the referee’s boss was forced to admit that the controversial try awarded to Canterbury Bankstown’s Johnathan Wright in the 74th minute of their clash against the Wests Tigers was the incorrect call.
“It shouldn’t have (been awarded), we made a mistake there, got it wrong,” Harrigan said.
“But I would like to say from the word go that you can run around your own player in some instance on a football field but in this instance it was wrong.”
Before also admitting that the 37th minute try awarded to Melbourne’s Sisa Waqa in their victory against the Brisbane Broncos was also incorrect, considering the player had knocked the ball on.
“Unfortunately we got that one wrong as well,” Harrigan said.
Despite admitting that the referees had made mistakes, it didn’t stop fans from questioning why Harrigan was still forced to admit they were still making the wrong decisions on the field, which has prompted an emergency meeting being called by Harrigan to go over some of the contentious decisions with his leading whistle blowers.
It however doesn’t leave much hope to fans of the game that the newly revamped finals series will not be over shadowed by a refereeing blunder that could quite possibly cost a team, and their supporters, a premiership.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
That disallowed try they called a double movement against Boyd playing for NoCastle against ManlyWhingers is another example. The tip of the ball was on the line before Boyd lunged again, but it was called no-try. Then Manly are awarded a try later with benefit of doubt when the ball was placed EXACTLY the same way. What's the point of just putting one more incompetent Boofhead in the video box? A whole room full of 'em would be like a 3 ring circus of clowns.
Merk51
Roar Rookie
I think, and this is just my opinion, but many fans out there would be satisfied and think its part of football if the players dropped the ball while scoring, or a ball was thrown forward in the act of scoring or something along those lines it would be a case of "that's just football" - sure it would hurt after 90 minutes to lose in that fashion but as a football fan you cop it on the chin and move on. However being a referee, especially someone with the experience of Sean Hampstead, who got such a crucial call wrong, at such a crucial time as you said Will Sinclair it could truly have a huge effect on your Tigers team and their top eight aspirations if results go against them but this decision was not only game changing but possibly season changing and a simple "whoops our bad" by the referee's boss doesn't make the loss fell any better.
Merk51
Roar Rookie
I couldn't agree with you more. Admitting that the referee's (or in this instance a video referee) got it wrong is one thing and congratulations to Harrigan for stepping out saying it. However the question really is why they got it wrong, especially someone of the calibre of Sean Hampstead. Would be funny to see the bookies make a new margin on "Will there be a ref stuff up in this game"
Will Sinclair
Guest
I'm glad to see Harrigan admit the mistake, because if he'd claimed that decision was correct it would have thrown the NRL into chaos. As a Tigers fan I am disappointed to see suich a crucial decision effect our season - possibly terminally. But I think you also have to recognise that the players made many, many more mistakes during the game than the referees. Dropping the ball from the kick-off in particular was a heart-breaker. But... well, geez... I wish they'd got the obstruction call right on the night. It was just such an obvious one. It's hard to take!
oikee
Guest
I think it is time we let Billy Harrigon go, and brought in some fresh eyes. It is like a computer nerd, he sits around all his life building, making programs only to find out life has passed him by, well Billy has lost his way. The rules are changed and he is not looking at the negative reaction to these changes. Then he tries to patch them up with more rule changes, before you know it we have a 100 more rule changes because he has changed one rule. He is doing the same with the Captains call, he will tinker and change rules, and plays, he will introduce more sets of eyes and runners to get the call to the coaches box. By this time it will be a complete shamozzle , when all he had to do is let the coach make the call as the NFL do now. They have already trailled the captains call, decades ago, and it does not work, this is why the coach makes the call. Harrigon will not listen, he will take us blindly down a path of self destruction, putting more blame back onto his refs, then he will quitely retire. I again ask the question, who can sack this guy, is he untouchable, will the game sit back and let him keep making these wrong calls, even after he said he is not wrong, then admits he is wrong, the guy is out of control.
Matt
Guest
Assuming of course after pumping the betting, these mistakes ARE mistakes. Two times broncos would have won at long odds. I imagine tigers certainly weren't favourites either... and they are just 3 games in the last 2 weeks, don't have a diary of every game and call.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
Admitting it is one thing, but I would love an explanation as to WHY they got it wrong?. I am sure the teams, fans and more importantly the bookies would just love to know that. Considering how heavily we are pumped to get us to part with our hard-earned cash to bet on the play (disgustingly so in my humble opinion), why would anyone want to bet on any outcome when the refs calls are a complete lottery themselves. Perhaps the betting agencies should introduce a new betting scheme, where we can bet on the refereeing?
JVGO
Guest
He admitted that his ref got it wrong in Rd One between the Tigers and the SHarks too and sacked him. He also admitted that they got it wrong (twice) in the Sharks GP loss to the Panthers. The big thing was that he couldn't admit that they got it wrong in Origin (twice also) because that would have been too big a thing wouldn't it. And if he actually really cleared up the shepherding decoy rule even now it would have to be admitted that the Origin series was decided on a a misinterpretation. That would be just too big a thing, so we will probably have to wait till the off season for bill to announce that the rules have been clarified or something and meanwhile Des will have won a premiership by taking advantage of all this. just great isn;t it.