It is not my habit to write about referees but this week I am compelled to do so after a highly-confusing and – it must be said – very ordinary weekend from our men in pink.
Their inconsistency is driving me crazy and it seems members of the public, along with the media, are scratching their heads in frustration after just five rounds of the NRL competition.
Does anyone here on The Roar have the faintest clue what the refs are going to do from game-to-game? Why aren’t the referees accountable for their decisions? And just what were some of them thinking with some ridiculous calls over the weekend?
I realise there are always going to be contentious rulings – refereeing at this level is an extremely tough gig – but a few things I saw (and heard) over the weekend beggared belief.
The Josh Dugan ‘no try’ ruling in the Dragons-Rabbitohs game was puzzling. He grounded the ball fair and square but he was denied a try when St George Illawarra desperately needed one.
In the Gold Coast-Melbourne game, Beau Falloon’s lifting tackle on Will Chambers didn’t even draw a charge from the officials. It was clearly dangerous – Chambers was taken well beyond the horizontal – and provided another very scary moment for the code at a time when I thought lifting was very much taboo.
Then there was that bizarre moment at Leichhardt Oval when the Wests Tigers players claimed Manly were allowed to play the ball after the half-time siren had sounded, in a move which ultimately resulted in a Jamie Lyon try.
Tigers skipper Robbie Farah approached the referee and pointed out that the siren had sounded and that the try should not be allowed. The referee simply replied that he didn’t hear it. I find that staggering – you could probably hear that siren five or six blocks away.
“Not good enough,” snapped Farah. He was certainly right about that.
The referees have a new boss this season, Tony Archer. He’s a very experienced official but I am not sure he is sending out the right messages to his whistle-blowing troops. Too many of them are taking the easy option and throwing the bulk of their calls to the guys up in the video box. This suggests they lack confidence in their ability and are keen to drag their colleagues into action to relieve some pressure.
The league is trying to speed up the action but going up to the box is dragging everything out, stifling momentum and thereby excitement. While I am on this, why don’t these video watchers have a set time to make their decisions?
Too many questions without answers about the performance of referees and you can see the rising frustration from coaches in their post-game comments. Trent Robinson, Steve Price and Craig Bellamy have been strong in their condemnation of whistle-blowers in the opening rounds and you can bet there will be many more sprays to come.
I would like to see Mr Archer hold an all-in media conference at around 10am every Tuesday. That’s when coaches and reporters could at least get some explanations and answers about the weekend’s controversial decisions and, consequently, we would all know a bit more.
After five rounds, there is general bewilderment about the way games are being handled and, in many cases, decided by the match officials. There will always be controversy arising from professional rugby league games, but surely not from every game in every round.
We cannot have a game without referees but we should be talking about the players and not the match officials and their rulings.
Boydy
Guest
That was Bill Harrigan trying to cover up the fact that he'd made a howler by awarding Gasnier a try when he clearing dropped the ball from about two off the ground and a metre short of the line. I remember that so well because it was memorable for the fact that the red & white army at Kogarah that night were cacking themselves laughing when the try was awarded after they'd all seen the replay on the big screen at the ground which, I might add, is a damn site more "grainy" than the video ref's tele.
Luke M
Guest
The funniest was a few years ago when they came out and said that the video ref has one small, grainy tv to view the replays on, while we all sat at home watching on our big screen LCDs.
planko
Roar Guru
Congrats John keep up the good work. What level do you referee ? At what point did you decide to take this path ? I am not taking the mick just curious.
John Hutchinson
Guest
Hands up everyone who is currently a qualified Rugby League referee and despite the abuse and scrutiny is looking forward to doing it all again this weekend.
Phil
Guest
I think a big problem is that the refs officiate in one game a week...refs in junior sport do at least two or three a weekend, and I reckon they're sharper for it. A lot of the calls so far this year would be embarrassing in an under 12s match. Make the refs do some junior matches on a Sunday if they've reffed a Friday match... What really annoys me is the string of even up penalties one side is sure to get after half time. It sways the momentum of the game artificially, and it should be rubbed out of the game.
Joel
Guest
Darren, let us not compare your incidents with ours, but please understand that if you hear alot of people upset with a situation, if there is a big outcry, that they might not just be "sooky la la" but may have a realistic grievance. I understand your intention not to take it with worth because "you" are Sydney centric.
Joel
Guest
Darren, let us not compare your incidents with ours, but please understand that if you hear alot of people upset with a situation, if there is a big outcry, that they might not just be "sooky la la" but may have a realistic grievance. I understand your intention not to take it with worth because "you" are Sydney centric.
KB
Guest
The finals series is pretty much open slather as too much rides on it right across the board. No ref has the balls to rig a really big game...except maybe Darcy Lawler.The first 26 rounds however are very do able. Strategic penalties, allowing sides to stand offside ..it goes on.
Sleemo
Guest
Would they go through drills every week, do theory? As full-time professionals, I think they certainly would. More training won't eliminate mistakes - just like more training won't eliminate dropped balls, offside runners, forward passes and missed tackles. All of these things are impossible to eradicate.
Sleemo
Guest
Lot of assumptions in there KB - huge ones. Suggesting the game's rigged by any chance? If it was I highly doubt we would have had a Roosters-Sea Eagles GF last year and I highly doubt this year's ladder would be the way it is right now.
Sleemo
Guest
...OR...we could give them a time limit, place even MORE pressure on the video refs to get a decision out ASAP, and have this lead to rushed decisions which will run a higher risk of being incorrect. ...OR...we could do away with the video referees completely and let the blokes in the middle decide. But that doesn't solve the problem because with all the camera angles these days mistakes will be made just as they currently are and the refs will be crucified. So then the video ref will come back in after everybody says "the technology's there, why don't we use it?" and we will be back in the same place we are now once a few tough calls are made. It's basically impossible to win. At least with the current situation refs on-field have to have the ba!!s to make a tough call in the first place. Better than what it used to be with "benefit of the doubt" and all the drama that brought.
Sleemo
Guest
If somebody else comes in and does the job, they will cop it too. Just like Daniel Anderson. And Bill Harrigan. And Stuart Raper. And Robert Finch. And...pretty much every whistleblowers' boss since 1908. People will be calling for the top dog of the refs to be thrown out every year until perfection in decision-making is obtained. And that, like it or not, will never happen.
Sleemo
Guest
Probably wouldn't help much at all. If a referee comes out and admits to a mistake he will be howled out of the appointments next week. It will just open up the door to more and more abuse which only makes the current problem worse. The referees would then have no right of reply which is worse than the current situation where they don't say anything to begin with. They are accountable - they are dropped after bad performances, just like players. Why/how people think there is no accountability is beyond me.
JImmy S
Guest
What's Tony Archer's experience for being head of referees? I would have thought that he'd need to be experienced in developing the systems and processes that the on-field officials and video referees use to ensure a cohesive performance that sees the team consistently make correct calls. As far as I can see, his qualifications are "used to blow on a whistle" and it shows with the referees generally not having much of a clue as to how to referee. Sure they know the rules as written in the book, but as to applying the rules, they're getting worse.
Darren Wyer
Guest
Your kidding aren't you the tigers had some disgraceful calls for a couple is seasons there that cost them spots in the finals series So certainly not a bias towards sooky lala Thurston's team bloody qld spoke need to pull your head out of the sand with your " the league is against us" crap
Bulldog
Guest
Your kidding glenn. Last two years Cowboys have been completed gutted by the refs and we were told to harden up, refs make mistakes, rub of the green etc etc by people like yourself. Now a couple of Sydney teams get some bad calls and everyone is calling for all sorts of inquiries etc etc. very Sydney centric view of the world.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Steve, I didn't have a problem with the Dugan no try. I'm neither a Souths or St George supporter. There was separation between Dugan's hand and the ball. He did not regain control of the ball by the time it hit the turf. You can't have players dropping the ball over the line and then simply putting pressure on the ball as it hits the ground. He'd dropped it cold and the refs got that one correct. I'm with you on the rest of the article though.
E-Meter
Guest
Exactly. Well said.
Brett
Guest
Nothing new, it's been happening for years.
eagleJack
Guest
Really? So who are the referees and administrators favouring? Cause I'm seeing mistakes and errors occur for every team.