For some time now I have become increasingly concerned at what I consider to be the new scourge of rugby league.
Almost every time a team plants the ball down over the line, in the all-important few seconds before the referee makes his decision, you can bet your bottom dollar that defenders will be making a beeline for the man with the whistle in effort to passionately remonstrate, to argue, to convince and, worst of all, to influence.
Groups of grown men will maniacally draw invisible boxes in the sky in the hope the ref will send the decision upstairs, knowing the video lottery is the best chance they have. And it has to stop.
This new plague isn’t only limited to try time, though. The manner in which players deal with referees all over the park has steadily deteriorated over the last few years. It is now considered completely acceptable to stand nose-to-nose with the referee and squabble like a sulking five-year-old, using language no five-year-old should know the meaning of. It makes me embarrassed just watching it.
There is no use debating whether players should or shouldn’t be role models for young players. Their influence on the next generation is immediate and saturating. We read articles about local club competitions where referees have to be escorted to their cars after matches for fear of retaliation.
The position of the referee as sacrosanct and untouchable is gone. And the game is poorer for it.
We are on a slippery slope, and it won’t be long until we degenerate to the level of soccer, whose players show such utter disrespect for referees that I’m surprised they can get anyone to do the job at all.
If I have to listen to one more player say that referees should treat them with respect to have it returned, I may well be violently ill. The opposite is the case. The days of referees addressing players by anything other than the number on their back should be over. The referee is the sole judge, jury and executioner, and should be under no obligation to say anything to the players outside of the odd explanation of a decision at a designated break in play. It is the players’ responsibility to respect the decision, cop it on the chin and get on with the game.
The only way this will change, though, is if the referees (or the match review committee) are given the green light to penalise anyone who gets out of line. It would only take a week or two for the players to get the message. Any argument about the apparent lack of quality of the refereeing is completely missing the point.
If we want to attract quality referees, we need to provide a safe pathway from juniors to seniors, and we don’t have that at the moment. Addressing the way NRL players interact with the whistle-blowers is the first step in the right direction.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
We would all like the referees to put an end this harassment they are now receiving. The obvious way is to first march them 10 metres, then the sin bin then a send off.This is how it should work. That it doesn't is because of the media. Headlines like the ref ruined the game with these 10 metre penalties. The game was ruined as a spectacle because of sin bin/send offs. The refs cop it now. If they clamp down on wrestling, off sides and penalise teams for this, we get the media screaming the ref was whistle happy. Mind you, we get the same media screaming because of the refs letting wrestling go, not getting players onside, etc. As it stands, the ref is on a hiding to nothing. Referees need the support of the NRL and not the NRL just mouthing platitudes. Changes need to be made and the first has to be reverting to calling players by their numbers not their first names. Second is to go back to one ref on the field. Cite players who refuse to accept the refs decision (ideally, if they carry on, they can do it from the sideline). Use the reporting system for what it was made for. Those cases where something has happened but the ref and touchies were unsighted. Suspend serial offenders, this will make the coach get the players to abide by the rules. If the media wants comments from the coach and captain, organise press meeting for the next day not after the game when feelings are running high.
chrisn
Guest
Very true I am a queensland supporter but lost a lot of respect for smith that day, mckinon is laying on the ground in agony all the players, supporters and officials are all standing around looking concerned apart from smith he is arguing with the ref because he doesn't want to give away a penalty.
Mark Ferguson
Roar Rookie
In my opinion one of the problems is the fact the Refs answer to the NRL, they have to tow the company line (politics) another is consistency how many times have we seen refs referee the two sides differently. But probably the biggest problem is probably the fact the refs are too personal with the players. The refs are supposed to be indifferent to the sides and players with no apparent bias lets get back to that.
Boz
Guest
Because it gives the refs an easy way out. Instead of marching players back, or better yet, sin binning them, they put it on report. Look at games when there was no option of putting players on report, and you will see a completely different attitude from the players towards the referee, and vice versa.
tigerdave
Guest
I agree Andy. The referees need to get back to treating the players as numbers inthe team. They are not their best friend on the field. Ensure that numbers are called not the name.
tigerdave
Guest
The tolerance of players trying to influence referees must be addressed. I personally hate players talking to referees making suggestions like Cameron Smith. He is the assistant ref when he is on the field. Firstly enforce the rule that the captain is the only one to talk to a referee, sin bin the others. Make the Captain wear the captains armband when he is on the paddock and when he leaves give that band to the captain for the time being for identification purposes. We need to also give the referee the authority to bin captains that make derogatory remarks or suggestive remarks. Questioning decisions and constructive discussions about your own team only should be tolerated. Try that and we would see plenty osf sin binning for a short while, but would also see the coaches getting sick of losing games because of ill disclipine.
Dylan
Roar Pro
I agree completely. That second game in last years origin was a disgrace. Players like Thurston and Smith and even Reynolds were being a bunch of filthy grubs and the refs let is continue on for so long. Oh well, at least we won I guess.
Luke M
Guest
Absolutely agree. This is another issue with blatant favouritism toward players/teams. Rules are black and white. If a rule is broken, penalise it.
mushi
Roar Guru
You could argue it is every colour
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It really is astonishing at the lack of understanding of basic psychology exhibited by those that run the game.
Andy Sharpe
Roar Guru
This must be an NRL problem - in Super League we don't have players mouthing off at the referee at all. Is this possibly down to ref's playing the 'mate's' card and calling players by their first names or nicknames or just purely down to frustration at the way rules are interpreted? I personally don't mind the ref's being personal and 'matey' and in the Super League you can constantly hear the ref calling player's names at the tackle or to come and talk to them and they don't get a gob full. I don't watch much Rugby Union but when I do - I am always struck by the way the players respect the referee and by the way the referee handles the players - even in high pressure situations they are always calm, polite, assured and in control of themselves - there is no doubt who is the boss - this is similar in Super League. I also can't name an international rugby union referee - is that because their profile is lower than RL ref's and they are their just to do their job and move on. Also the RL media seems to highlight officiating errors much more than the RU media - constantly when watching SL on Sky in the UK they go on about forward passes, off sides etc instead of concentrating on the skills of the players - it is seriously annoying. The RU commentators are not like that - they may mention it but they don't go on about it - I think it takes something away from the game as a spectacle when your own media constantly highlights officiating errors - that in itself then creates more pressure and makes the officials more of a target for fans (which happens in the UK a lot) and players (which appears to be more NRL based). I agree that the officials should stand up more to the players and if one of them uses expletives they must be sent off - I coach at junior level in the UK and always tell my players not to argue with refs, even of the call is blatantly wrong - they don't always listen but I will chastise them if they argue with a referee.
Andrew
Guest
What about blocker Roach in the finals? I think that was 1989? Padding on the ref head...!!!!!!
soapit
Guest
can you expand on how being able to put players on report is part of the dissent problem?
Jay C
Roar Guru
Also what about if instead of a time and a rest they had to do like 5K on the push bike. that way they come back knackered. You could get Giant or Trek to sponsor. I actually reckon that would be good.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Holden Captiv(e)-a
Jay C
Roar Guru
Plus I just plain enjoy arguing with some of you. I'm sure we could come up with something. What with the sky being orange and all....
mushi
Roar Guru
Or embrace the some of the "bad boy" image and have the players have to stand on a chair and bubble for 10 seconds of continuous stream before they are allowed back on
mushi
Roar Guru
We'd still have administrators and code wars
pjm
Roar Rookie
Perhaps that is the root of all RL evil?
Jay C
Roar Guru
If it wasn't for whining at referees this website would be bankrupt.