I can think of at least 20 other things we could spend the bunker money on.
The NRL has splurged on new technology in 2016, technology that can be seen as the biggest waste of money since Chris Sandow’s Parramatta Eels contract.
The NRL bunker gave fans fresh hope and excitement for the 2016 season, but so far has only been able to get us giddy over the power of zooming in.
Unfortunately, this $2 million equipment has done more harm than good, and the fact that it is so expensive means that criticism is not kept quiet.
However, there are many other things, simple things, that you can spend this amount of money on, and feel like you’ve actually got your money’s worth.
1. 40 diamond-encrusted Bluetooth headsets
2. One and a half years of Daly Cherry-Evans
3. Two weeks of Lionel Messi
4. Two orca whales
5. 80 ‘Almas Caviar’ fish eggs
6. Two ruby-studded spandex suits
7. Roughly 6% of Floyd Mayweather’s last fight.
8. One McDonalds restaurant
9. A seventh of a gram of Californium 252
10. Commission two new ‘Warnie murals’
11. One Sidney Mobell Monopoly Board
12. Less than half of a Lamborghini Veneno
13. Ten Kieran Foran contract payouts
14. 1666 square meters of Tokyo
15. 1.4% of Painting: Number 5, 1948
16. 250 Huia bird feathers
17. Two parking spots in Manhattan
18. Roughly 0.3% of ANZ Stadium
19. 7143 Wests Tigers full season memberships
20. One George Rose dinner
Well I can safely say that I’d rather have any of those 20 things over the NRL bunker.
The improvement we have seen is nothing, and it does not look like getting better any time soon.
Todd Greenberg, go buy yourself a couple of whales and stop wasting our time.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's really well put Richard. There's been a stream of anti bunker comments this week because of the Joe Burgess no try. Sam Burgess and Maguire publicly bagged the decision, the media has jumped all over it and the predictable sheep have followed with the "bunker is stuffed" commentary. And all this for a decision the bunker got right!!! Thats the very definition of a no win situation. The bunker has improved the video ref process. It's heaps quicker and I think overall the decisions are better. There will always be 50/50s - that's the nature of refereeing. But the chorus of "the bunkers rubbish" every time someone disagrees with a decision is a bit sad and a bad reflection on NRL fans.
planko
Guest
What has the bunker categorically got wrong recently. Every decision is in the margins I have not seen a complete Howler. I have seen a few when the referee does not go up. However the NRL should be doing the ANZ Stadium refit. I would love to see the NRL do this with their billions. The long term payouts would be massive for the whole league. Having a home the NRL owns would be massive IMO.
Kaks
Roar Guru
"It could be better if the view got to see the actual footage used to make the decision so there was less outrage" Exactly. The Burgess "no try" would be a lot less 'controversial' if viewers were allowed to see the side on angle - which clearly showed separation of his hand and the ball - for more than a split second during the resume of play, instead of during the decision making process. Dont understand why we are able to see the 4 camera angles the bunker is viewing simultaneously during some games and not others?
Kaks
Roar Guru
As funny as this was, it irks me that a lot of criticism is being directed to the bunker when the bunker has in fact been correct in a few of its 'controversial' calls recently. The bunker is new, they are working out the kinks to streamline it, it will get better and for now it has been doing a decent job.
josh
Roar Rookie
Pretty sure most of the bunker decisions have been pretty good. Good rant though.
Richard Maybury
Guest
I was about to say similar. There is probably a cost/benefit case to the bunker that we haven't seen which could render this argument irrelevant. The other thing I wanted to say about the bunker is that just because the bunker comes to a decision that a good section of fans and certain media people disagree with does not make that decision wrong. This technology was purchased to get more decisions right not to get more decisions that agree with public opinion.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Did Warnies mural actually cost him $1mil?? Lord almighty!!!
smell the fear
Guest
spend the money on a global management search for the best keyboard warrior to take over the NRL CEO job
NQ Cowboy
Guest
I agree. Surely it's cheaper than paying for the video refs to travel to each game.
MAX
Guest
I think the Bunker is great. I think they should have total control and the whistle blower's contribution be limited to blowing kick off and full time plus whatever directive needed to control the game. In time we could have robots replacing the human referees. So Patrick, could you please add R & D of robotic on field referees to your list.
Scott Pryde
Expert
As much as I don't disagree with the article (I think the Bunker is still a step up on the video ref, even if it hasn't worked), have to say this was funny. 20. One George Rose dinner - HA!
John
Guest
I would say the bunker is more useful than a year and half of DCE. Other than that a pretty spot on list.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I think it has been good. It could be better if the view got to see the actual footage used to make the decision so there was less outrage, but I think the explanations have been good, and it is a good thing really. Better than before anyway... truth is, there will always be one side that is upset by any decision. Get on with it.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
If it were that easy. Thing is, they would have been spending that money anyway to move the Video ref around games to get to a location.