After four weeks of mayhem, common sense has finally prevailed at NRL headquarters with video referees handed the power to determine the significance of block runners in try-scoring situations.
Obstruction rulings will no longer be a case of black and white for the men in the video referees box, who up until now were forced to deny tries where there was any contact initiated by a block runner into a defender.
It led to farcical situations where teams were being stripped of what appeared legitimate four-pointers where a defender was impeded well away from where the try was being scored – as was the case with the Cooper Cronk no-try in Melbourne’s round three win over Canterbury.
Effective from this weekend, if a defender is taken out but would not have been in a position to stop the try being scored, the try will still be awarded.
The move comes following a meeting on Tuesday involving referees boss Daniel Anderson and other members of the competition committee.
NRL general manager of football operations Nathan McGuirk said the rule change was not a green light for block runners to take out defenders.
“Having examined the application of the rule over the opening four rounds we believe an adjustment was necessary to provide a level of discretion for the video referee in the review process,” McGuirk said in a statement.
“… (it) ensures that tries that would have been fairly scored will be awarded.”
Players and coaches alike were left fuming over the weekend when a series of tries were rejected by the video referee, Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah claiming players were being encouraged to take a dive when hit by a decoy runner.
But the change is unlikely to provide a foolproof mechanism for awarding tries, with the same debate which marred last year’s campaign over the level of interference of a block runner sure to divide opinion.
Rival coaches Ivan Cleary (Penrith) and Gold Coast’s John Cartwright had different views on the no-try against Panthers No.6 on Sunday afternoon after Sika Manu ran into Titans back-rower Greg Bird in the lead-up.
Cleary, who is part of the competition committee, claimed defenders weren’t doing their job if they didn’t attempt to run into a decoy runner when a try was being scored under the system adopted over the opening month of the campaign.
anton
Guest
traveled 800 km to watch the game with my family and enjoyed the 78 mins till last try. Met JT before the bus, took a photo with JT & the misses. travelled home next day and watched the Titans game and walkers disalowed try by tapping the ball forward and regathering to score under the post and disallowed.then watched the replay Monday on Fox ( tigers - cowboys) and saw Benji Marshall's try and was totally perplexed to why the same rule did not apply . This was a critical part of the game which I believe weighed towards the loss and yet cowboys came back to get in front. It showed great courage in disfaverable conditions yet we were there and the more support and voice we have as supporters to get to these away games. The stronger we will be. See you all there at the rematch up in Townsville round 26. ( 18 hrs drive looking forward to it).
Roarsome
Guest
I love this game and the lack of professionalism of the administration. They have NYC, pre season and All Stars to trial ridiculous rules and neglect to include a trial for an interpretation change they actually use. This changes mid-season to accommodate the fact that their idea didn't work! How about the NRL start trialling things for next season now and have an answer by August so clubs can start preparing rather than a last minute announcement. It will also stop mid season changes. Better still, don't change the bloody rules every year. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
eagleJack
Guest
This is good. The onus will still remain on the lead runner to avoid the defender. But if contact is made then discretion will be used by those controlling the game. Sometimes contact is unavoidable and inconsequential. People ranting and raving over this are of the belief this is the first time we have had an issue with the obstruction rule. EVERY year we have a problem with the obstruction rule. This is nothing new. Anderson is doing a very good job.
oikee
Guest
It really hurts having to sit through those 4 weeks of complete and utter madness because some guy wanted to change the whole way the game is played. 4 weeks that teams who got hammered because of these dud calls wont ever get back either thanks to the incompetence . As i said in a earier post, why was it not trailed in the under 20's or NSW cup. This is the amatuer part of the game that still exsists. I dont even want to talk about the shoulder charge, what good has that done. Harrison misses 2 weeks, the guy that hit him only got 1 week off. Again, the judiciary has not taken into account the length of the injury to the player. Same as Blake Furguson and his 6 to 8 weeks out now because of a shoulder charge. So the refs sit out a week or two, Buderus plays next week, and poor Furguson gets 7 weeks. The punishment is not fitting the crime. As for Whiting taken out in the air, i cant even talk about those 2 refs. Sutton has been making bad calls now for 2 years. He is not up to a-grade, that is for certain. Anyhow, lets see how this weekend pans out now. At thew very least we wont have Jamie Lyon running into the decoy and putting his hands in the air, Air Diving. The simple fact is that you have to defend the decoy runner, he might get the ball. You cant not defend him. This is black and white, your either going to have a man watching him ready to tackle, or your not going to have a defender on him and he will stroll through the gap. This is what Anderson was getting wrong. He was saying that defenders did not have to defend a decoy runner who could get the ball. If they get the ball and your not defending, what then, a try. As long as the decoy runners dont knock the defender over, or trip them or push sideways, then play on. You have to be their to tackle them, you cant be in 2 places at once. I am looking forwqard to the improvement this weekend, but as i said, 4 weeks has gone now, teams are battered and busted because of dud calls. Sterling and other commontators have got to stop making excuses. Penalise, charge them and move on, except the punishments, dont try to defend wrong that is wrong.