The captain’s challenge is a big talking point of the NRL pre-season.
Similar to the cricket system, the captain can make as many challenges as they like – as long as they keep getting it right.
Some commentators have expressed concern about possible tactical use of the rule. Perhaps there’s a big line break, with the player brought down by a lone chaser ten metres out. With just a handful of defenders onside, it’s likely that a try is going to be scored on the next play.
The defender finds a way to stop the game either by stripping the ball or being offside from the play the ball and calls a challenge. They don’t care that they are going to lose the challenge, the intent is to create a break in play that allows the defence to reset and cruel the attacking team’s momentum.
Personally, I shrugged off this complaint pretty quickly – at best it’s a tactic that could be used once in a game. It’s likely to be considered a professional foul by the ref in any case, giving the player involved ten minutes in the bin.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
In general play, then, I don’t really see the captain’s challenge as having much impact on a game. It will be an occasional interesting talking point where a team over-turns a bad call or perhaps when they miss an opportunity to.
Where I do see an opportunity for a game-changing difference is in golden-point games. The most common frustration with this part of the game is that referees clearly think they’ve already earned their pay over the first 80 minutes and routinely refuse to uphold the rules any longer.
They do not want the newspapers the next day saying the game was decided because the ref blew a penalty in front at 84 minutes.
Teams are well aware of this and completely ignore the rules when trying to stop field goals. Markers not close to square, defenders metres offside, we’ve become used to the fact that the rules governing golden point are not the same rules in play during regular time.
However the whole scenario changes when the captain’s challenge is available in this period. Any failed attempt at field goal – a stoppage in play – would be an opportunity to call for the captain’s challenge.
Chances are there is a clear penalty on offer, and the video referee won’t be able to turn the same blind eye to it that the on-field refs do. If teams continue playing the way they currently do, a penalty kick in good position is almost guaranteed.
The defending teams then will have to modify their behaviour during golden point. More importantly, so will the refs. They may not be keen to give game-winning penalties but ignoring them is no longer an option. They will look silly being over-ruled for obvious penalties – sillier again if they just ignored them for the other team that didn’t have a challenge left.
So my suggestion is that the captain’s challenge could have the unintended consequence of cleaning up golden point.
Does anyone see other areas of the game where it could make a significant change?
Simmo
Roar Rookie
You know how to bring fatigue back? Get rid of the video ref, and have the captain's challenge as the sole safe guard. I can't see why they need to have workshops to work this crap out, the solution is so simple
BrokenSocContract
Roar Rookie
Great more stoppages and watching countless replays debating if a ball flicked a finger nail. Sport is entertainment not a pursuit of absolutes. The what ifs are what it is all about. Surely noone watches sport for the deliberations. Let them play,let the refs referee and let's all celebrate the uniqueness of human fallibility. And if anyone thinks that the ability of a player to stop the game when needed won't be exploited then they are mistaken. Just imagine big Sammy ,the last man standing,battered bruised,still resisting but you are breaking him down. One more run at him will see him off. He needs a rest. Do you take him off or do you concoct a stoppage. So many scenarios where a couple of minutes debating the trivial could influence a game. The endurance of the modern player and the ability to rotate has stifled the creative,the hit up Monster is now king. This will only be reinforced with this silly new rule. There is a very big possibility, especially towards the end of a game that it becomes a glorified time out.
Walter White
Guest
That is very true and I fully agree about fans not being the impartial judges. There will always be a tendency for them to assume the worst particularly when their team is losing. However, the referees boss cannot be accused of suffering from the same problem particularly when he is examining stuff in review with all the time in the world to look at and re look at things to get them right. When he takes the unprecedented step of standing down 2 refs and a touchie, you can take it as read that there was something very very wrong in that game. The Captain's challenge could have addressed at least some of of what was going on that day.
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
Of all the opinions here regarding the captains challenge I agree mostly with Monorchid . I fear it will just become just another officiating stoppage in play that does nothing to address the issues that actually spoil the game . I can see it adding to the numerous issues surrounding increased "professionalism" in the game once the players and coaches come up with a way of exploiting it . I think the NRL is missing the bigger picture by constantly tinkering with the rules every year but failing to acknowledge what a lot of other sports have already been through regarding professionalism in their respective sports .
Nick
Roar Guru
"What I do care about is a game where I am sat in the stand and willing our captain to put the ball down and take the entire team off in protest" Ironic position to take from someone who got so angry at a few indigenous protesting an anthem... Thought you were all about following the rules as written cause there's nothing wrong with them? Conspiracy theorists...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
dunno about that, you had a good track to start with. anyway, I think we are on the right track. :thumbup:
Insider
Roar Rookie
Mmmm not really Joe, won’t fix the ruck, or the 10, as I’ve said these are bread n butter plays and like many have observed huge bias many times
Insider
Roar Rookie
You explained it better than I
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I didn't think there was any way under the rules for a ref to call six again and change his mind either but they did. I don't think it would be such a big deal for them to break the rules again if needed to correct a problem they created. Then the NRL's line that they ''got it right in the end'' might be more accurate.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Unless the ref got the tip on his earpiece to change his original decision......
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Didn't I see an article by Mary already earmarking using paddles to alert his skipper, which means time wasting in the game. Bad, unhelpful rule.
The Barry
Roar Guru
What if a captain challenges say high contact, but while reviewing the tackle the video ref spots say a knock on in the tackle? Can he adjudicate on the knock on (assuming he rules no high contact) or is his involvement limited to the reason for the referral?
Tony Hodges
Roar Rookie
Exactly. Tennis has it spot on. Linesman/ump makes the call, and if you think they got it wrong you put up or shut up. That’s the bit that really makes it work. I feel like a reset at half time, and in the event of golden point, feels like a good balance.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Well said. Life isn't perfect, games aren't. Celebrate and enjoy the game not the rules.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
In that case, probably shouldn't be there. Why have something that will complicate and not improve the game?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, I don’t think the video ref would be able to do anything even if they wanted to. There’s certainly no recourse to “replay” the fifth tackle
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
You got it. This rule is designed to take the heat of them. Ref make a bad call, isn't challenged, now the captain's problem because - you could have challenged and you didn't - or - you wasted your challenges being frivolous. Bad, bad rule..
Stormy
Roar Rookie
I'm in two minds about the captain's challenge - think I'll wait until it's been in operation for a few weeks before I make a decision. Please, could we move on from "replaying" last season's finals. Right or wrong, they are over &, in truth, have been done to death.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
How Croker avoided finishing the game in the sin bin is astounding when compared with the Cronk one or the Jurbo one. Let's not even mention the touchie. But as usual with whinging about referees you only notice the ones that go against you not the ones you get.
Walter White
Guest
I love most pies particularly pork pies, beef pies and chicken pies but if you mean something to do with that awful AFL game, you could not be more wrong.