The NRL have erred in their appreciation and awareness of drama and narrative.
Professional sport is a form of entertainment. It is like a soap opera and action film all rolled into one story.
The on-field referee and associated on-field officials are part of that story.
And like the players who err and make decisions that can cost a team the game, so too the officials. But these decisions stay on the actual field, adding to the whole drama of the game itself.
This is where innovations like video refs and bunkers fail. They are outside of the game. And literally so.
The laws of rugby league are not that complicated. A single on-field referee, two touch judges and two in-goal judges ought to be enough.
Yet with the same wisdom that permeates all Big Brother leaning entities, the NRL have deemed that it is not. More is required.
Beginning with a video ref, this more is now two on-field referees and a bunker with three or four video refs, and has essentially removed the authority of the person in the middle.
No longer big daddy on the field, the referee has become a bit character, an extra. The bunker is now the regular guest star, stealing the show and creating complex and unnecessary plot lines.
It would do well for the NRL to recognise who the real source of entertainment and drama were.
hoops280
Roar Rookie
JT handed his headgear to the Ref at the end of the game. All was forgiven.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I suppose the laws of the game would highlight the rules and responsibilities of the touch judges but I wouldn't be confident at all that they were being adhered to.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I am partial to that opinion of yours Muzz.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
A good film/story lasts and generates money over a longer period. But if you make money right away, you are always right. All hail Big Brother.
Muzz
Guest
The problem isn't the Bunker, it is the administration who is running the NRL. RL is the worlds greatest game imo however it is, and has been, mismanaged by mu ppets for some time.
Tim Gore
Expert
I think they're priorities are 1. Money they make 2. money their sponsors make 3. crisis management. So, agreed, psychology not in that list.
Tim Gore
Expert
As they pretty much ignore me, I don't think that it was me calling them gutless last week for not using the bin, but the timing is eerie.
Tim Gore
Expert
Honestly didn't see either. Heard Matai's (working on my deck) and heard of the Warriors (scrwaming baby) sin bins. Pleased to see 3 in one weekend. All were for stopping possible try situations. Still only one this year for repeated professional fouls (Jordan McClean - Ash Klein).
turbodewd
Guest
id support the idea of one ref ONLY if the touch judges are given more power. Often the touchies can see stuff the ref simply cant see if his vision is blocked.
Jacko
Guest
The Ashford sin-binning followed a very similar tackle from the Storm which was only penalised and when one of the Storm markers tackled the Quick-tap runner he was way offside and all commentators said it but refs do nothing. So inconsistant and definately bias. I think it was the stupidest decision ever made to play the only NZ V AUS teams game on Anzac Day at a time which was 9pm at kick-off in NZ and game finished around 11pm NZ time. Not many people from NZ would have watched that one-especially kids. Where is the common sense
Jacko
Guest
Don the problem is that when the "on report"incident is proven to be nothing its impossible to go back and have a different team play the ball from the spot the incorrect ruling was first blown. The Refs seem to use "on report" when they dont know what happened or didnt see it properly. Too late to correct later.
Ray Smith
Roar Rookie
You need to look at that one again Steve. The ball hit the opponent before hitting his foot. All three in the commentary box saw it that way too. As I said, the Roosters were not good enough. They are at the bottom of the ladder for a reason.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Thanks Tim. My main point was that the idea of a bunker/video ref interrupts the psychology of sport. It takes something away from the spectacle of the game and in my view, the game includes the referee - on the field. By introducing the video and now the bunker, step by step, the NRL are removing the focus from what happens on the field (as part of the entertainment that is sport) to what happens off it I don't really think the NRL understands the psychology of sport all that much.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I agree with you that 'Stripped balls were going undetected' like the time that SKD got the ball stripped and then the Dragons scored which should have been a penalty for 'stripping' to the Roosters and the Roosters should have been in the Dragons 40m and on the attack. But the instance where you say that a 'try scored by the Roosters was dropped onto the opponent, rebounded back and then kicked into the in-goal for a try' was not like you make it out to be, the Roosters centre was attempting to kick that ball into the 'in goal' and as he attempted to drop the ball onto his foot to kick the ball, he was instantly tackled by a Dragons players and it first hit his foot and then the Dragons players foot, and the ball went into the 'in goal area, there was 'no knock on' by the Roosters player and the try was a legit try.
Albo
Guest
All the bunker has done has increased the opportunity for more humans to make errors in adjudicating the game ! The level of consistency is decreasing every week as the players try on more sneaky cheat moves ! It is fast becoming a complete joke ! Whilst they have tried to make a black and white decision on the obstruction rule where dummy runners are concerned, we actually see that no real obstruction is being caused at times, but because the runner hit the wrong shoulder of the defender the try is ruled against. On the other hand you have multiple obstructions being run by defenders every time a bomb is put up and not a thing is done about it ? Then you have my favourite blight on the game, where in every tackle an attempted strip is being made with the first two tacklers in, trying to rip the ball or ball carrying arm off, and the dopey commentators calling it poor security if the poor bugger ball carrier loses it ! And then we have the latest "don't touch the ref" farce ! Sam McKendry cops a week for barely brushing the ref last week, after previous cases were dismissed, and who thinks that JT and Cam Smith will cop a week for their similar touches this weekend ?? Pigs might fly ! The game's rules & adjudications consistency has become an absolute joke !
Ray Smith
Roar Rookie
If two on field refs and two touch judges is too much, why do they miss so much? A try scored by the Roosters was dropped onto the opponent, rebounded back and then kicked into the in-goal for a try. Stripped balls were going undetected. I don't want the bunker coming in all the time but I expect the on field adjudicators to see more. If they don't, a quite word in the ear is needed. I thought the Roosters did well out of missed infringements, but came up whinging. Perhaps a dose of "We weren't good enough" rather than "We were robbed" is in order for Trent Robinson.
Boz
Guest
So why can't they use the head bin for only foul play now? Also - as you state for players having mandatory concussion tests - none of that should have anything to do with a player being on report.
Don
Roar Rookie
The head bin was rorted to get a free inerchange. Accidental contact even from a team mate meant a player could go to the head bin and then they were allowed a free interchange. The ref placing someone on report means that the free interchange is only allowed if deemed a result of foul play.
planko
Roar Guru
I saw clear air between hand and ball this is the angle that I assume the bunker saw.
Jeremy Shrubb
Roar Rookie
In all the images of the Ross the try the crucial moment of film was blurring making it impossible to tell is his fingers had separated. I think with lack of clear evidence the decision should have went with the on-field one, like a Manly try a bit later on in the game. Also agree that Uate spilled the ball because the Manly players arm got him on the nose.