Now I cannot deny that this will cause some controversy and hell, I for one actually enjoy stirring the pot when it comes to it.
I understand why it’s there but sometimes I believe that it’s been used way too much and sometimes way too long.
Sometimes they make it quick and easy but often they take ages to the point you can listen to the full version of Pink Floyd’s ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’ and they still don’t have an answer. That song goes on for 25 and a half minutes.
I won’t blame the refs for having to use it when it’s necessary but if it’s something as clear as the light of day, don’t waste our bloody time going to it unnecessarily to take forever and a day to make a decision. It’s coming to the point where you’d rather be wanting to watch Street Fighter, which is one of the worst movies ever.
All that aside, with any use of the bunker have three looks at it and if you can’t make a decision, stick with the on-field ref’s call. First, look in slow motion only but the other two go in real-time. Give them 45 seconds and if within said time, the one in the bunker can make a call, that saves what could be 30 seconds of our lives we may potentially never get back.
I think sometimes even when the call is right in front of them with things like a dropped ball, foot on the line or an obstruction, they choose to use the bunker to be 100 per cent on point, which is absolutely understandable. However, if it’s clear as light of day, just make the damn call right away and get on with it.
I understand that social media blowups happen all the time with sports but the refs need to just do they were hired to do and not worry what others say. If they make a mistake, own it and learn from it. It’s like when you train, you may not do the bench press in the best of forms or you may do it too heavy and collapse but you learn.
Being a ref is a very tough job and I won’t deny I have been a bit harsh on them at times, but I will give due credit and simply say that they should just do their jobs. I understand some controversy involved with bad calls and if it does happen to determine the match, all hell will break loose.
What do you Roarers think of the bunker?
Superspud
Roar Rookie
We are the problem. The rugby league punters and the media are to blame for the stop frames replayed 5 times after it is obvious what the decision should be. In this world where we all want to look for an excuse for losing other than we weren't good enough the referees have to be as sure as they can be. Unless a game is won by 20 points the talking point is always referees, "there has got to be some call that went against us that was the reason we lost". One of the best things about watching games from the 70s and 80s was the lack of slow motion replays and focus put on 50 50 calls. Watch a game from back then the refereeing is 10 times more accurate now it's our attitude and our need to blame someone for our teams failure that has made the refereeing look bad."We just want consistency" means "we want all the 50 50s to go our way" " we just want them to get it right" means " we are happy for there to be mistakes as long as they favour us". We are to blame for the 5000 time microscope the bunker uses.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Not if the right calls are being made. I laugh at critics of the bunker. Sure, they get a couple wring, a very very small percentage, but you just have to look at the amount of incorrect calls by on-field refs that are overturned every weekend. If there wasn't a bunker, the wrong calls made by on-field refs would be doubled. STOP WHINING ABOUT THE BUNKER.
Big Daddy
Guest
If you look at Fridays match when Sutton said that Trojbovic had scored but checked with bunker is proof enough to use it. We call ourselves a professional sport but if we don't use technology available we are nothing but an amateur sport.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Actually if you watched the Tonga V Gt Britain game with one referee and very limited use of the bunker and when it was used it was specific & to the point. I loved it and it was some of the most sensible referring I have witnessed in a long time......YES the bunker is being over used because our referees are scared of making a decision and whilst the referee performance points adjudicating system is used by the NRL the referee will always pass it in to the bunker. But what gets me is that when you look at the decision making by the referee, they get it right 97% of the time and there was always that 3% error margin in the game forever and a day. The sideline officials are just as bad, "Oh I think it was OK but you had better check it" If it was OK it was OK simple.
Greg
Roar Pro
I do agree in thinking the decisions take too long, and I really don't understand how they do take so long in many cases. Not sure if there could/should be a process to speed it up, and will such a process impact on the right result being called? For all the money that has been spent on it, im amazed some pretty basic stuff isn't included such as offside line. I also cant imagine it would be to difficult to create an offside line that travels forward at the same speed a player is running at prior to passing to adjudicate forward passes. Disagree about it being overused but, really refs do regularly award try/no trys "if it’s something as clear as the light of day". If anything I think it is under used. I believe (not certain of it though) currently in general play, they can only change a scrum feed to the other teams feed, change a dropout to a 20m tap or award a penalty if its deemed report worthy. I would like them to be able to overrule any break in play (without the time off send it up routine). If the team gaining an unfair advantage (from a wrong call) is quick enough they will keep that advantage (thus speeding up play), if not the bunker can overrule before play is resumed (thus more correct calls).
Peter
Guest
I think Roarers want (a) no bunker (b) all officials to get every single call absolutely correct (c) immediate recourse to higher authority when, in the Roarer’s biased opinion, the officials got it hopelessly stupidly wrong, by making a call against the Roarer’s team. Other than that, great article!