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Please stop the guessing game

2nd August, 2014
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The video refs may occasionally get it wrong, but it's not because of bias. (Image David Jackmanson, Wikimedia Commons)
Roar Guru
2nd August, 2014
25
1064 Reads

At the halfway point during the first game of the NRL round, all the talk was unfortunately, once again, about the officiating.

Early in the first half of the Bulldogs’ Friday night loss to the Panthers, Chase Stanley looked as though he may have crossed the line, capping off a brilliant Bulldogs movement.

However he was to be bundled into touch by Panthers fullback Matt Moylan.

Referee Matt Cecchin sent the decision to the video referee box, ruling his decision a “No Try”. Even though the replays suggested it was most likely a try, there was not enough conclusive evidence to overrule the on-field decision.

To the letter of the law, the referees got it spot on.

In normal time, it looked as though Moylan had done enough to deny the Bulldogs winger a four pointer. On the video, you simply couldn’t say the on-field referee’s decision was 100 per cent wrong.

The fact is though, the more replays they showed, the more it looked like a try.

Social media, commentators and experts all agree that it is time to stop the guessing game. If the on-field referees cannot make a decision, they send it to the video referees.

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The decision made by the on-field officials is nothing more than a guess. If they knew for sure whether or not it was a try, there would be no need for a referral.

It is absolutely astonishing that despite the years and years the NRL has had to improve their video referee system, there are still errors being made.

Just to reiterate, neither the on-field nor video referee were in the wrong on Friday night. The way the rule is set up, both were spot on.

Simply put, the rule stinks.

If the replay looks like a try, it’s a try. If it doesn’t, rule no try. No guessing game, no benefit of the doubt, just a decision.

There needs to be one referee in the video room making a final decision. He shouldn’t have to work off a guess by the two men in the middle, he shouldn’t be bound by benefit of the doubt, it should come down to common sense.

I’d look at introducing a three-man video referee for State of Origin and finals games. Any decisions that are referred are looked at by three eyes. Common sense would prevail as surely two sets of eyes would not get it wrong.

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Although no sport has it 100 per cent spot on, cricket seems to get video referrals right more than any other sport. This is because there are set rules, which everyone is aware of, and they take into account common sense.

If it’s out, it’s out. If in the rare instance you cannot tell for certain, the benefit of the doubt goes to the batsman. The rules have been there for years, and they’re widely accepted. Sure there are some that don’t agree with decisions, but you’re never going to get 100 per cent agreement on anything.

One thing that goes almighty close though, is the move to stop the guessing game. I’d hate to see a grand final decided on a guess rather than common sense.

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