NRL eating itself from the inside out

Spectator, they need to take the refs out of the game, a simple way to do this is introduce the Captains challenge, why is this game always waiting 3 years to make change.

While league is evolving into this modern version its losing its heritage and the ref's are not evolving, I think there needs to be a big push by the NRL to train more and better train the ones we have in match cfficials and coaching staff. I wouldnt complain about the ref's if they went back to no Vid ref and one ref on field as two refs's mean two opinions two ways of seeinng things and when a player is use to one ref theres the others interpretation. Its not getting any better and needs serious help to find a way to evolve with the game.

At 8:21am, 28 Feb you said it explicitly that they are no more dangerous At 10:04am, 26 March was the first of several times this year you said they should just be treated the same And then above on August the 14 you are saying that you can’t differentiate the effect that the shoulder charge had compared to a “legitimate” tackle (by legitimate I assume you mean using the arms because making contact with young’s head makes it impossible for it to be a legitimate tackle) Anymore questions?

Good point Turbodewd. I would like to add about Kebab's comment. lol. ah. I entirely disagree with everything you have said. How reckless, unconcerned and oblivious to other people you must be. Damn the kiddies, you say? simply amazing. Buddy, I don't know which side of the tracks you grew up on, but IF kids want to fight, they should do so in the boxing ring. Not in the school yard. Maybe someone can teach them how to fight. What people forget is just what it was like years ago. Everyone has rose tinted glasses as if to say " Oh yeahh *sigh*. 1965 - that was the year when you could have a punch up at school and everyone was friends by the days end, the loser would cop it on the chin and he was never badly hurt, he just fixed his jaw, nose and eye socket and got on with the business of living! Not like these wimps these days....." Yeah, and in 1965 people had more integrity, honor, and sense of community than we do now. In 1965 they may have fought but they didn't try and kill people. In 1965 things were waaaaay different. So tell me, do we still think wearing swords in public is acceptable? Do we still carry sidearms to get to the grocery store? Do we still think that recreational cocaine use is 'a pretty good thing', and do we think that slavery is a good way to increase your productivity? Things change. And you, and others like you, are sitting here in your chairs, while watching sport, and thinking its your right to encourage violence. Not only that, many wish it. The times, they are a`changin. See, I didn't find Gallens king hit particularly paletable. The guy is out there to play a sport, and its not boxing. You attribute everything to "the lawyers". Mate, its not the lawyers by themselves - they ARE IN THE SERVICE OF THE ADMINISTRATION. for crying out loud. Get with it, my friend. Its strictly society that is not tolerating it and driving it, its no the lawyers. The reason why you can't hear the people say "gees, rugby league, eh - oh yeh, the game where king hits are cheered and held in high esteem....right....sounds like something I should be involved in..." is because those comments are being drowned out by a small, aggressive, and vocal set of supporters who think their balls are being cut off. To round everything off, you bought hook, line and sinker the entirely preposterous notion that the CEO should have played for some sydney club sometime in the 1980's. How much critical thought goes through people's heads? I have my gripes, but one thing I don't do - is I don't let my personal bias and clouded judgement get in the way of evidence, facts and common sense.

"I don’t think that refs should have to front the media after each game and explain their decisions. That shows a complete disrespect to the authority figures in the game." I agree. I wrote about the respect issue in an earlier article. The referee needs to be the big daddy of the field, the dictator that no one can mess with. He's got 26 beefed up testosterone heads to control. If he isn't the big daddy those 26 boys are going to walk all over him. Decision making by committee (second referee and video ref) only dilutes his authority. The rule should be simple: any player not the captain who speaks to the referee gets penalised... "They call it how they see it and, although they sometimes get it wrong, players need to suck it up and play on." Again, I wrote about this. Mistakes are part of the game. They are one of the things that add spice to a game's story. As long as the same mistake is not being made, then a wrong decision is fine. Trying to get every decision right sounds appealing, even reasonable, but it is impossible and the attempt to do so removes some of the life and spontaneity from sport.

Ok. O.P I get you. I see what you are driving at but I feel I have to say this and its nothing personal. I have not read a more pessimistic slog in my entire time on here. Its unsubstantiated, and whipping up a storm or perpetuating the negativity (unfounded mostly due to the impossible high and double standard thrown out by one publication and group of aging commentators) is just plain negligent on a scale akin to theirs. and look at everyone (some) take the bait. the article was a good whinge, nothing more. My points. 1. Look. Shoulder charges - big deal. Mate, its like if I have a like for weaponry just say and then they ban guns. But we know in the year 2013 that such a thing as free and virtually unrestricted gun ownership in australia is a bad thing. You can accept it, or you can fight against it. Such as with the shoulder. Its gone. Bye. Thanks for the memories - weren't those times when we rode into town, guns at our hips, fingers on the trigger, death-staring people down, shooting the first fool who looked at us wrong who just happened to be the Sherrif! - they were great! We will never forget the intent to cause maximum damage, the use of excessive force entirely upon our whim and damn the consequences (to others, not us): yeah.... *sigh*. That will be with us forever..... /sarcasm Serisouly, the Shoulder issue is massively overblown in the negative. I affirm completely whats happened. No, its not and won't be responsible for softening the game. 2. Fights - same thing. And its like this: fight in origin, king hit. Kids at school who watch on tv expect the same privilage. Those kids goto school, king hit some poor slob and turn round to receive high-fives from their friends. Principal jumps on the blower and has a go at the NRL - "I got a few kids here following in Gallens footsteps. They think its acceptable and wonder why on Earth I, as their School Principal *don't* think its acceptable. They can't fathom it. " - The rub on that is I think there was one private school group (a dozen or more schools)? who threatened to pull the pin on supporting rugby league !for their students sports-time!. I.e Banning it. Whats a School Principal/School-Group Head to do when there are multiple incidents THE NEXT DAY at their schools? I understand we all like the biff - I don't mind it, won't say I love it. I thought Gallen myself was a bit of a hero for standing up to that kind of grub tactic, and if not a hero then he showed a lot of courage. I am talking about his personality - but the cut of that kilt is that here I wander into double standards. I don't condone violence as a means of solving issues. Maybe you do. But it made me wonder the next day after I reflected on it, just why he even needed to do that. - Not to mention the papers are full of fighting stories the next day. Its a bad look. Sponsors hate it, its bad for juniors in official RL clubs and at schools, and it gives everyone a chance to sink the boot into rugby league. Because its 2013, not 1975 anymore. We don't walk around with swords anymore, neither sidearms. There is no need. Same with fighting. - Then consider its ok to fight in Origin - but not club footy? This new governing really makes you see how inept the former governing was. I mean, its absolutely rediculous that the game was not standard across competitions. Not that we would notice much as opposed to soccer, who have a myriad of competitions - and its all standardized-- and look at the pressure of refs in some countries, they never (seemingly) give into crowd-whim and sometimes need protection to get off the field. Cant say a blanket-description of them, but thats acting with more integrity than our own NRL was. 3. And you know what - it took MASSIVE guts and will and sense for the the ARLC to find the courage to do what is right. Without them, we would still be plugging 100 holes in our argument that RL is the Greatest game of all. 4. Everything else said, I can respect on some level. I do sympathise with views such as yours. However, IF the guys in the combox would stop flying off the handle and stop whinging that its not 1975 or 1985 anymore, and spent less time sinking the boot in rather than commentating on the game, we may feel better about these things. I dont think the statement where you said each week there is something we are getting upset about. Its unsubstantiated, and when you consider the millions of people watching, their different views, and the multiple games and time it takes to watch - I don't think that sentiment of "each week" or "all the time" is substantiated. ___ We know the Reffing could use a look at. Its obviously a complex situation and doing a 180 in such a short space of time is no mean feat. However, I don't blame the refs totally (if very much)....... wait for it..... ...I blame the players. Grubby tactics, wrestingy, slowing the play down, they need to stamp it out -- THATS whats wrecking the game, not the reffing so much. I guess our feelings are all just exacerbated by everything going on around the edges. But its come to the time when the ARLC are taking a good look at it, and I think we will see improvements. ___ I only wish you had mentioned that information about seeing improvements in what was not a very balanced article. And yes, I do see (and experience on occassion) where you are coming from, but no, I do not feel that Rugby League is rotten at the core, or on its last legs, or that its a hopeless cause to raise the standards (all round, in support of refs, and of refs too). So I am not ready to sink the boot in. I think the game is often the scapegoat for many personalities to inflict, detract and tear down as they see fit. None of it is helping. One can say you don't want knee jerk reactions, but for that to happen, people need to get off the NRLs case and support it, constructively critisize it yes, but not dismantle it. I think thats a part of the solution, and would open the door to a greater and swifter solving of these issues.

it used to have alot to do with league, its why people liked league more then union and afl.

"It is a scary thought to ponder where we will be in years to come." I can have a good guess at that one, I would say in 50 yrs there will be only tag or touch footy, with the tackle version gone the way of most contact sports such as boxing and will be banned and deemed too dangerous, along with other hazardous activities such as blowing out birthday cakes at school for fear of spreading germs, we will be left in a world void of excitement and humor , with most of it considered dangerous or offensive.

I get everything you're saying, but a ref can't be expected to catch every single infraction, regardless of the sport. Its frustrating to see that drop out not picked up, but these things happen. We can't haul the referees across hot coals for every infraction they miss. Especially when a lot of those infractions are open to interpretation. I think the video refs should be more open to criticism. They at least have time and resources to make sure the decision is right, yet we end up with decisions like Inglis's 'try' in state of origin at Etihad Stadium last year. It's howlers like that should be answered for. Not the occasional missed offside call.

@des, here, here. @Epiquin, The point is this... The Titans dropout surely came as a result of some knuckled down effort and nous at the end of a set by the dogs. Why shouldn't the refs call this up, and re-reward the dogs for playing the rules as they stand? The refs seem to have no hesitation in calling a flat ball forward, yet miss the obvious stuff. I wonder at some refs. I watched the roosters v warriors live earlier in the season and saw Klein reposition himself in the line because he couldn't see the play the ball as play was resuming. The problem... a warriors defender standing in front off to his left. Not a thought of blowing the whistle. Why?

There's my point right there: "it's the refs who interpret the rules differently." The rules shouldn't have to be interpreted. They should be black and white. In soccer if the ball touches a players hand, the referee doesn't have to think "well he didn't make a direct play at the ball so it's not a handball but the direction the ball came off the hand was forwards so it should be a penalty..." He knows its a handball. Simple. If he misses it, so be it. You play on. It's the way it's been since the dawn of sport. You can't criticize a ref for interpreting a rule if the rule invites him to interpret it.

What about poor sandow? Don't you feel for him lol

Was going to argue but your closing remark was too funny. Well played sir.

Really they don't deserve any respect my friend I have lost too many hairs on my head too much money too many years of my life due to the stress the men in pink have caused me they are incompetent and useless even the side line officials have one easy job and they can't even do it.. you don't seem to understand its not the rules it is the refs who interpret them differently and then there are refs who just straight out help the one team ie Melbourne who get the rub of the green in almost every game look at billy should of been sidelined multiple times but has escaped sanction time and time again its souths as well this year every 50 - 50 call goes there way even tries that aren't tries go there way ie souths vs manly sutton scores a try but a manly player is impeded... Souths try! Other end tom symonds scores a try but a souths player is impeded (far less than the above sutton try) no try! Souths penalty! Then they score on the next set and the game is gone happens all the time every year every game so yeah they should front the media they are the ones killing our great game!

My point... eyes, a functioning pair. Unless your suggesting the ref was looking elsewhere, or his line of sight was impeded... And I don't mind takin the odd one on the chin, but be damned if I'll take one anywhere else.

As he should.

I'm not really sure what point your trying to make. A line drop out happens in about 1.5 seconds and a ref is supposed to notice that a player is centimeters in front of the line? So the ref missed it. He didn't have a screenshotted still handed to him. It's hardly a game changing blunder. Refs have missed things since the dawn of sport. We used to take it in the chin and play on, now we sulk to the media. It's our attitude that's got soft. Not the sport.

It may 'shush' up critics of the shoulder charge ban, but it will give a hell of a lot of ammo to critics of rugby league. Like all those parents who think RL is too rough for their kids to play and watch. As I said in my previous comment, the reason NOT to publish it is it raises more concerns than it eases.

They call matai the hitman for a reason buddy just how we refer to you as a fly or lord of the flies etc if that cheap dog allgood did that to one of your little broncos we wouldn't here the end of it would we... Matai is pure entertainment look how be smoked big George Burgess haha the big rig didn't know what hit him just layed there dazed.. then about a minute later he smashed Sammy boy. Gold! Not too mention matai is one of the form centers in the comp.. every1 loves to hate manly and matai and we embrace the hate i mean you gotta have someone to dislike it makes the game more exciting doesnt it. Didn't matai send thaiday flying earlier this year?? Go manly 2013 premiers

I don't need any replay, https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BRdgBSPCQAAXX4-.jpg Unless you think they also should call it like they don't see it