Bill Harrigan is to rugby league referees what Don Bradman was to cricket – peerless.
In a stellar career from 1986 to 2003, Harigan controlled 392 first grade games, including ten grand finals, as well as 21 Origins, and 25 Tests – all records.
So when the now 57-year-old talks about the standard of referees, everyone must listen, for the benefit of the 13-man code.
Headlines blazed when Sharks coach Shane Flanagan teed off blaming the refereeing for an early exit from the NRL finals series, and was followed by Manly coach Trent Barrett with his massive spray for the same reasons.
Enter NRL boss Todd Greenberg with a spray of his own, fining Flanagan $30,000 and Barrett $20,000, and telling them both to grow up.
Greenberg went on to explain referees must be a protected species, and while they make mistakes because they are human, they mainly get it right.
Cold comfort for those teams sawn off by those human failings.
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Every administrator, coach, player, spomsor and fan are fair game for media attention, but not the whistlers. There would be a fair argument if by protecting refs they keep improving, but that’s certainly not the case.
Enter Harrigan, who went a whole lot further in condemning his peers, adding if referees boss Tony Archer can’t lift the standard, show him the door. That’s mighty heavy ammunition being fired from the greatest referee of all time.
Sure, Harrigan made mistakes during his long time at the top, but they were few and a long way apart.
Harrigan’s success story had a simple formula, he was respected by all 26 players on the paddock because 99 per cent of his decisions were spot on, and he was the only referee.
That was included in Harrigan’s spray to return to a sole referee, because two refs get in each other’s way, and with two touchies as well, today’s games are over controlled, and they still get it wrong.
And that includes the multi-million-dollar Bunker, which wasn’t around in Harrigan’s day.
It’s not as if Tony Archer was some rank and file referee, far from it.
Between 1999 and 2012, Archer was a standout referee, with 319 first grade games, including three grand finals, along with 13 Origins and nine Tests – an impressive career.
But it doesn’t matter where you look in rugby league, the pivotal area are the referees.
Human error is acceptable to a point, but there are no excuses for missing forward passes, offsides, poor play the balls, and defenders lying all over the ball carrier, choking play.
I haven’t watched every second of every game on television, but I’ve seen a fair bit. Not once has every player been on-side from the kick-off – not once. Yet there’s never been one penalty.
It’s those obvious misses that don’t give referees any credit points, and lead to not trusting decisions.
The way rugby league is played today is a credit to the fitness, athleticism and talent of the players. It’s up to the referees to lift their game as well.
No Bull
Guest
You are joking. Bill made horrible mistakes. He awarded 2 tries to Brisbane in the 98 Grandfinal which weren’t tries. He didn’t go to the video ref for either of them. One was knocked on the other a result of a one on one strip which was illegal at the time. He made plenty of mistakes. There were always far better refs than him. Some that come to mind are John Gocher, Tim Mander and Tony Archer who was undoubtedly the best ref in recent history. Archer was no poser, he was never bigger than the game. He just made correct calls nearly all the time and you knew an error was a genuine mistake. I believe the refs were at their worst during Harrigan’s period as refs boss. They were better under Finch and I believe the best they have ever been under Archer.
Sam
Guest
I've seen him referee more than a few games. If nothing else he had the courage to call it as he saw it. The one that sticks out in my mind is the 99 Grand final. He simply was not overawed by the magnitude of that decision. Gutsy call that one.
Dan
Guest
Loved Harrigan. Reckon any of today's ref's would send a Tallis off? In an Origin?
Peeko
Guest
Bill was a good ref but he now has this ridiculous aura about him.
Peeko
Guest
Don't let facts get in the way of davids story
Peeko
Guest
Agree
Tingo Tango
Guest
David can you clarify your statement that everyone except referees are fair game for media attention except the whistle blowers. Since when did the media hold back having a go at the men in the middle? You seem to have confused the fines handed out to the coaches to somehow meaning the media is not able to say anything. Really!! As a life long fan of the game I am really getting sick of the constant bashing of referees from all sides. The NRL refs are the best officials in the world given the fast pace of our game along with the various bodies in motion and then add the bounce of the oval ball. In most cases they need to make a split second decision which is going to lead to a mistake from time to time. This constant line of "the refs are no good" is tiring and I for one have had it. You like all the other critics out there should put your money where you mouths are. If you think it is so easy go and get your referee's certificate and ref a few games. Let us all watch your performance and see how you rate. I know this will never happen but it just shows the shallow argument most have on this matter. They really have no idea what is involved but all of a sudden are experts on how to fix it. Bill Harrigan was a great referee in his day but it does not mean he would be today. If I am not mistaken didn't he run the show some time ago. How did the refs go then? We seem to have short memories. If a referee does not perform then drop him like any other player. If he/she makes a mistake from time to time like our great players do, give it a rest and enjoy the game.
Womblat
Guest
No worries, all good.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Right you are, it should have been aimed at 'Jacko' I take it back.
The Riddler
Guest
Did you watch every game he refereed in to say his decisions were 99% spot on- I very much doubt it- I Think you better get new glasses when you watch the video's of every game he was referee in- Made plenty of mistakes
Mark Young
Roar Guru
He was brilliant, easily the best ref to ever take the whistle in Rugby League. The man had no fear and gave no favour. He could not be intimidated and would not back off no matter who you were. All of which, would make him a terrible ref, except that he made it his goal to stay out of the game as much as possible. He was happy to have entire halves of origin without penalties, provided the players were operating within the rules. Tim Gore suggested that the game lost its way after the League refused to support him after he sinbinned four recalcitrant Parra players earlier last decade. Have to agree with that. If players kept their mouths shut and did what the ref told them the game would be better for it.
Womblat
Guest
I wasn't talking about Mr Lord you genius. Follow the thread if you can. Do you even understand how they work and that I'm was supporting Mr Lord? I was talking about the hateful anti-Harrigan comment left by who is obviously a good friend of yours. Amazing the likes of you presume to know what I know about Rugby League. That's called arrogance and you and Jacko both have it in spades. Congratulations on that but it's worth nothing. Communication failures like the one you've exhibited are woeful.
R N
Roar Rookie
"I don't like being compared to Bradman because I don't think I have his leg side weaknesses!" - Warwick Todd I could definitely imagine Harrigan saying something similar....
steveng
Roar Rookie
Rubbish Wombat!!! Its people like you (who haven't or don't know) RL and how it was and how it should be. Mr Lord has been a journalist for many years and has allot of expertise (which is far greater than you would ever have) on the game of RL. The refereeing in the NRL is going from bad to disastrous and if you and many people like you are in 'denial' then this wonderful game is in trouble and will disappear, as it will die a slow death the way that it is run and refereed these days!!! The writing is on the wall and you don't have to be an expert to see what is happening.
Gray-Hand
Guest
Harriman popularised the 'game management' style of refereeing that causes so much inconsistency today. It has damaged the game just as much ch as wrestle tactics in rucks. Having said that, he was never afraid to oversee a lopsided penalty count, unlike every referee in the game today.
chump
Guest
At least Glenn Maxwell found his way into the australian squad despite Lord's best efforts.
Benji
Guest
Bill? This is what Roy masters said about Bill more than once "Billy was a low-penalty-count ref whose few blasts of the whistle were often directed at teams threatening to run away with the match. The result was a low-stoppage, high-energy, end-to-end game that was often not decided until the final minutes. Billy helped make State of Origin a valuable, visual product, and if he gets his way, the NRL will be the same." Bill needn't apply - we already have confected results.
AGordon
Guest
Your analogy of Bill Harigan being the equivalent of Don Bradman is quite ridiculous. In effect, you're saying this guy was as near to perfect as any referee ever born and there has not been anyone, before or since, who has gotten within cooee of Bill. What complete rubbish. As others have written, Harrigan was a very good referee until his ego got in the way, then games became the "Bill show". He learnt this from Greg Hartley aka "Hollywood" who learnt it from Keith Page. All of these guys, at the end of the careers, were happy to be controversial, instead of being in the background, making sure the game was adjudicated properly. If Harrigan has anything of value to add about referees, by all means we should listen but then people need to decide whether to respect his words. Not everything Bradman said was worth listening to and the same applies to Harrigan
spruce moose
Guest
Talking about Harrigan or the author?
Paul Chapman
Guest
I find this constant criticism of the Referees, the Bunker system & the NRL administration by the supporters of the game & particularly the Journalists who make their living out of Rugby League very strange. As one who has followed the game for over 60 years let me say that the refereeing may be far from perfect but it is much better than years gone by. The Bunker has been hamstrung by both channel 9 & Fox as the commentators talk over the bunker audio & do not replay the available footage from the bunker. The administration by the NRL must be extremely difficult trying to satisfy the competing factions from "club land".