Stop the clock, NRL is running out of time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Et1qBCnv3c

I think it would be less actual time in play, ever since you cant strike at the ball as it is being played there is essentiall wasted time betweeen the moment held is called and when the dummy half grabs the ball. The ball is actually being used or contested for a very brief time each set of six

One 'immortal' per media broadcast would be nice too.

Great article. How about a couple more: 2 seconds - the amount of time a dummy half is allowed to wave his hands uncontrollably in the air either looking for a holding down penalty or apparently trying to fly north for the winter. Penalty - Must sit next to Geoff Toovey in press conferences for the rest of the season. 1 second - the amount of time Big Mal is allowed to smirk at a journalist before answering when they ask him whether this is the strongest NSW team he's seen. Penalty - must coach NSW 30 minutes - the combined amount during a season that a player in an interview is allowed to say "we are not looking too far ahead, just taking it one game at a time". Penalty - writing scripts for Locky and Joey's post game on-field interviews. Find a 25th variation on how they can say "how good was that?"

TV commentators have been mute on ref stuff-ups this year, which makes me think that there is a TV rights NRL contract clause that prevents ref's being commented upon. Dunno about radio, though. But "hammered" they aren't, at least on TV.

Arguably the most ridiculous word ever but when you dust it off, it always works wonders. Monty Burns: "Smithers, who is that lollygagger?" (Homer flips out and crashes into boom gate)

Either you or Liam has obviously never been to Salford...

I agree with both Bazzio and Pot Stirrer - as I believe they raise two different yet important points. Firstly with Bazz - I would prefer that the captain cannot question the referee on any decision unless there is a natural break in play - such as waiting to pack for a scrum, waiting for a dropout, taking a penalty kick at goal or when a try has been awarded. If a ref blows a penalty for offside, high tackle - why does the captain have to discuss it? Make this changes law and if a captain does question the decision when he isn't allowed to - march the team another 10 metres. Secondly - Pot Stirrer, I agree, that the refs are on a hiding to nothing with commentators. Why can't they just say that the ref made the call as he saw it. If you ever watch the NFL - if the officials get it wrong, the commentators don't spend the next 10 minutes bitching and moaning about it.

Chris has made forward progress in this area, for a diminutive little half back.

I disagre Bazz, The Ref are ruthlessly hammered by commentators,coaches and fans after the luxury of replays. Even when it looks like a 50/50 call the cmmentators stick to their argument becuase they cant be wrong and then insult the referees.

LOL ~ I thought you must have used the Rex Mossop book of useful words.

China's fine for Manly by me ~ it's easier to get to China than it is to get to the Northern Beaches.

I believe I remember an occasion during the ref career of Kieth Page ~ he got so tired of decisions being questioned by team captain (G.Langlands?) in one game that in the second half, when Changa walked up to ask about a penalty ruling, Page immediately blew the whistle, marched 10 yards, re-awarded the penalty, and, followed by Changa asking what was going on, blew the whistle again, marched another 10 yards, and re-awarded the penalty again. The game flowed question-free from that moment on, and Page was very rarely questioned again in his career. The current crop of ref's are a bunch of prissy submissives who are more in awe players than rules.

Good Stuff, but seriously, my experience is a game of NRL doesnt go for long enough when you go to the game and the easy fix would be to stop the clock everytime the ball is out of play except in scoring situations.