I love sport. I’ll watch any sport. Camel racing, clog throwing. Probably even curling. Maybe synchronised-swimming.
It’s the thrill and drama of competition. There’s nothing better.
Nothing could ever turn me off sport.
But if, gun to my head, I had to pick one thing that would turn me off, I know exactly what it would be.
It would be the attitude of the general sporting world towards referees, as exemplified by Ricky Stuart’s post-match comments this week.
I used to be a referee. Soccer, admittedly, not rugby league, but I’ve been to enough park games of all descriptions to know there’s little difference from one to the next.
From park footy to the grandstands to the pro dressing rooms, barely a game goes by where certain members of the losing side won’t find a way to blame the referee for their loss.
Sometimes they’re quite vocal, as we saw in the case of Stuart.
Sometimes it’s nothing more than a filthy look, a refused handshake, a comment made loud enough for the ref to overhear from his fold-up chair at the halfway line. These days, possibly a tweet.
Losing teams can be quite convincing in their arguments, too. They certainly have the courage of their convictions behind them.
Just watch Stuart’s press conference to see how convincing they can be.
But the only story that should have come out of Sunday night’s game was the glorious comeback of the Titans.
Instead, we’re treated to a week of questions about the integrity of referees. Again.
I know that when I was reffing, I’d often have some sort of unexplained hatred for one team, doing everything in my power to ensure victory for the other. Apparently.
Which team did I want to lose? Sorry, not sure. I was usually only told after the final whistle.
It seems so obviously ridiculous to me. Scapegoats for sore losers.
But let’s say they’re right. Biased, incompetent, evil referees everywhere.
Doesn’t that completely defeat the purpose of sport?
If certain fans, players and coaches honestly feel the referee is that influential, then what is the point of competing?
And if all your losses come down to the performance of the ref, then where is the glory in your victories?
Fortunately, not all sportspeople have this attitude.
But a heck of a lot do, and I find it incredibly frustrating.
It’s lucky I love sport anyway.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
"they (refs ) have the most important job on the field" Patently not, when they draw the lowest pay-packets of anyone on the field.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Then let the ref tee off on the teams in his own press conference! Until then, coaches can cram it.
The Spectator
Roar Guru
It can take a dummy spit to highlight a problem sometimes, his human, under pressure coaching parra.!
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Well here's a rub ~ when I was playing footy in a game once upon a time in the 1970's, we were referee'd by a guy who penalised our team out of the match from the kick-off. We weren't a great team by any stretch, but neither were we dirty, habitual rule-infringers, or unsportsman-like. Yet mid-way through the first half it was obvious that only one team was being referee'd ~ ours. Our opponents never knocked-on, passed forward, stood off-side at the scrum, fed the ball into the 2nd row, were in front of the kicker, or infringed in any other way, according to the ref, yet they did . . . . Penalty count 56 - 0 against us! Our coach referred the ref to the referee appointments board, and was advised that our team should be coached to play by the rules! Therein lies the problem then, and now. Teams & coaches have to cop it sweet even when the refereeing is so obviously incompetent, with no right to review, and no effective refereeing scrutiny, criticism, or oversight. And that stinks!
Mr Realist
Guest
Haha, you're right DS, I haven't been here long so I will take your word on that. Its just that coaches and players need someone to blame. The referees are the easiest target. Robinson cannot conceivably come out and defend himself (because people will believe he is being biased against Parra if he does) yet by staying quiet Ricky gets his say and (as the saying goes) if you through enough mud it eventually sticks. Referees are in a lose/lose situation here. Referee mistakes in sports have been happening since the dawn of time. So have player mistakes. Yet why do we as sports fans put a higher price on Referee mistakes over player mistakes? In fact they make LESS mistakes than players. That is reality.
The eye
Guest
Stats on penalties ,Matt F.,as you know can be very misleading..penalty pay backs in the last few minutes of the 1st 1/2 like the Sharks got against Manly on the try line really don't help.
Bulldog
Guest
Why Blame the Ref? It is tactic that some of the NRL coaches utilise to gain an advantage. Ricky Stuart is simply taking a leaf out the Des Hasler, Geoff Toovey, Craig "bellyache" Bellemy book. They are happy to cope the $10K fine to put some doubt into the ref's minds. The refs are human and like most people they do not like conflict and being told they are idiots and as such will avoid this conflict by favouring that team (consciously or sub-consciously). This will not work for every coach however or they would all do it. They need to be either a high profile coach (ie. Craig Bellamy) or a high profile team (ie Sydney based team which gets most media coverage). No good for the Warriors or NQ Cowboys coach to have a whinge as they do not get the coverage in the Sydney media to get the desired level of uncomfort for the ref. It is simply mind games no more no less.
Spiritfree
Guest
I stand corrected. Thanks.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Actually it doesn't. The teams with the best penalty differential (penalties received minus penalties given away) are Cronulla (+12), Gold Coast (+11), Canberra (+10), Canterbury (+7) and Newcastle (+5). Those teams are coming 10th, 6th, 9th, 16th and 5th on the ladder right now. The bottom five teams in penalty differential are Parramatta (-12), Tigers (-10), Roosters (-10), Penrith (-7) and Manly (-6). Those teams are currrently 12th, 13th, 4th, 14th and 2nd on the ladder. So the team running last has had a good run with penalties while two of the current top four have had poor runs with penalties. Next theory!
maximillian
Guest
Sticky, like all good coaches is trying to deflect attention away from his players. Of course his rant is absolutely ridiculous, but it has achieved its purpose & we are all talking about refereeing performances instead of the real issue of the Eels blowing a second half lead & snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on the weekend. This relieves the pressure from fans & the media on the Eels players & hopefully allows the Eels to get a few 50/50 calls go their way in the future. A bit of a rough tactic on the refs but you can see why coaches resort to this type of move.
Spiritfree
Guest
No, it happens to the teams at the foot of the table. It's not just the Eels. Storm players, Bunnies players, they can - relatively-speaking - do what they like.
Spiritfree
Guest
Why sit on the fence? You're spot on with that Warriors v. Bunnies match. But why just raise that one instance? What about the blatant strips? The first one, at 31', so obvious my cat was disgusted enough to spew all over the carpet. But two refs couldn't see it, even though it was right there. What is the point of having two referees if they're going to be so one-sided? The Bunnies "won" by two points. Stole the two points more like, with the assistance of their referees. But hey, if they hadn't won, the Bunnies first defeat of the season would have been to the Warriors, who were last but one from the foot of the table. Ricky Stuart is absolutely right, but he gets punished from stating what he - and everyone else, coz we see it every week - knows to be right. What's the point of blaming the refs? If there's an injustice, most people get miffed. What's the point of this Roar article?
Lou
Guest
It's more than just the Eels Titans game it's every game , they (refs ) have the most important job on the field , to adjudicate without bias, I've seen a lot of bias this year and every other year for that matter , they need a kick up the backside !!! Is it coincidence that some coaches prepare there sides to play a particular style that suits who is blowing the whistle ????
Delpy
Roar Pro
There are also players and coaches not up to the standard and they deserve the same scrutiny.
Delpy
Roar Pro
It could be because we require two on-field referees, two linesmen and two video refs across eight games per week, but there are referees in the NRL that are not up to the standard. I can't see any referee consciously favouring one side, but there are definitely games where one team gets the rub of the green. Everyone should be accountable for poor performance and that includes referees. Some coaches, as was the case with Stuart this week, are using the $10K verbal attack to try and influence referees in future games. They are trying to access that subconscious favourtism.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Lou, The refs are not allowed to make any mistakes, but players (Highly trained /fit individuals make several in each game, everyone makes mistakes!. I have read that these two should be 'whistled out of the game', yet Two of the Eels STARS made blunders that cost their side tries, against, Not heard any coach make an OPEN comment about how shocking this was and how thes players should be stood down for weeks! .
Meesta Cool
Guest
Great article Adam, I watched the game and Eels LOST IT, after 60 minutes they clocked off and Titand made yards in all directions, - If you have reffed, then you know yorself that a few decisions in each game can be questioned .. it just seems that they only get questioned by the losers, I haven't heard one beep of support for Sticky's rant' from any other supporter other than Eels (And anti ref folks) I just watched a replay of the game and noted a few questionable calls on both sides (And a lot that could have been callled), I also confirmed to myself that the Eels were pathetic in the last 20 minutes and did not deserve to win, They were pretty good in the first 60 minutes and to me, this says that 'Sticky' needs to concentrate on THEIR fitness and Attitude , more than blaming the refs. Sheeks following reply is also 'spot on'... Ricky thinks his team is an easy target, then shoots off his mouth at two people who have no 'right of reply, surely the refs are the easiest target of all...
oikee
Guest
Mate, you nailed it. Cant get over how well you said that. Nice work.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
"Yet not one person has come out and questioned HIS professionalism nor the CONSISTENCY of his performance". You obviously haven't been here long Mr Realist....there are plenty of Hayne bashers on here. Turbodewd and M.G Bubank are leading the chorus. :)
Matt F
Roar Guru
Agree 100%. Referees will make mistakes but too often they are used by coaches to deflect attention away from the team I did like Ricky Stuart's line that "it happens to us every week." Maybe the fact that it happens every week is an indication that it is the players fault? If different referees keep penalising them then basic logic would suggest that it is the team that has the problem.