In the wake of COVID-19’s indefinite shutdown of the NRL, many are beginning to question if the pandemic has usurped the bunker as the greatest disruption to the game since Jamie Soward’s goal kicking routine.
However, the accusation has seen many leap to the defence of the virus, highlighting its clean record of never replaying 35 different angles of a single frame with two other blokes just to determine if its a dropout or a 20-metre restart when its 38-0 with three minutes remaining.
For those unaware, the coronavirus outbreak has slowed the world to a halt in recent months, earning comparisons to other crises like swine flu, the Great Depression and that Josh Morris disallowed try for a double movement circa August 2019.
After months of widespread disruption and no antidote, many health experts have naturally begun drawing comparisons the to the bunker, pointing out both are intrusive, long-winded, costly and clustered and how, most notably, both have gotta go.
(The Roar)
With daily images of confused officials painstakingly deliberating over conflicting interpretations of laws, with some even urged to wear personal protective equipment, some predicted COVID-19 was so close to mimicking rugby league review technology that it was on the verge of signing a naming rights deal with KFC’s ten wicked wings for $10 deal.
But despite its breathless ability to cease the world in its tracks, can the pandemic lockdown really claim to have overtaken the bunker for ubiquity and indeterminacy?
Some are claiming this comparison between sports technology and a virus to be like chalk and cheese, contending the unprecedented interruptions caused by the greatest threat to the game’s existence to be pretty bloody long, but so are those caused by the coronavirus.
Introduced by the NRL in the era fondly remembered for having cash flow, the bunker was charged with the explicit responsibility of addressing the number of howlers in the game, mainly by increasing the amount.
Over time, the technology has enjoyed dramatic improvements, especially in areas such as speed of decision-making and explanation of decisions. While the majority still remain wrong, it looks bloody good on a spreadsheet.
On the other hand, coronavirus has emerged as a greater disruption than footy software in a box, especially after managing to completely engulf every trace of the human race’s time, attention and liberty.
Such is the magnitude of its reach and devastation, it has blanketed every major news outlet across the globe, with its only interruption coming with the extraordinary development in recent days of the mural of Josh Reynolds’s crazed ex-partner.
COVID-19 has not spared rugby league, sending the game into some absurd universe where John Bateman collects scrap metal while officials ponder Jason Taumalolo reopening the season in summer playing Origin in front of nobody.
What’s more, it has marooned the game in limbo, with the NRL officials forced to formulate a return strategy while juggling broadcasters and force majeure, a legal concept known as ‘act of God’ or ‘whenever Cameron Smith says so’.
In saying this, some fans have enjoyed the indefinite break caused by the outbreak. In fact there were a few who claimed they didn’t even notice the game had ceased, assuming Jared Maxwell was just checking a block play for any possible interference back to 1997.
With the viral hiatus still in effect and the bunker still ironing out technical bugs while inside its six-year teething phase, the jury will remain out on who deserves the title as the game’s most prominent interruption, at least until we see Wati Holmwood’s bum cheeks again.
Nevertheless, this has not hindered campaigns for change, with some innovators now urging the NRL to reduce time wasting by replacing the bunker with a global pandemic.
Rob
Guest
Worst call was Morgan knockon against Broncos. Morgan challenges because he knows he never lost the ball yet the video ref rules in favour of the dud refs call because he couldn’t categorically see the ball in the contact so sticks with Ref’s call. Never dropped it or lost it into the opponent but all he can do is laugh at his challenge burnt. In cricket they soon realised a ball actually hitting the stumps could also be given not out so teams retained a challenge. In Rugby League they just guess.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
The clear cut ones are specifically what we don’t want to be wasting time on, and it can be also argued that what’s marginal today on the bunker was almost unable to be ruled on yesteryear. The most obvious example is the ability to sync and watch replays from different angles at once, whereas on the old system we would watch on replay 1 where the ball goes down, and on replay 2 where his foot touches the sideline, then several replays of the same angles while the video ref tried to guess which came first. This is no longer marginal and is considered straightforward.
Nick
Roar Guru
It's not that faster. It only seems faster when some of the cases are clear cut. When there is a marginal call, it takes as long as the old days.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Worst challenge had to be RCGs. What was it? 15 minutes into the match, every bloke and their dog saw the ball bounce out on the ground as he fell on it except for Gutherson, who for some reason decided to listen to his prop. On your first point however, The bunker is far faster than the old system. Whether the price tag justifies that speed is up for debate though. Especially if the NRL can’t put on a decent season this year. Also NFL and Cricket officials still have the option of reviewing plays without a challenge being issued, so poor examples. In fact, I believe the NFL reviews every scoring play without being called on by the on field officials.
Big Daddy
Guest
Dane, I can remember years ago when the refs first started having advertising on the kit. One of the best was "TNT" - that's no try and when they had OPSM on their shirts. Maybe now the bunker could have something similar. I am very tempted to have one related to our current situation but I don't want any flak. The captain's challenge could be sponsored by " Captain Morgan Rum" . Captain!! Captain???.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
The Virus & Bunker have something in common. After each Bunker decision that is proven to be incorrect, we get an APOLOGY from the NRL. With the Virus I'm expecting China to offer a similar APOLOGY pretty soon. In both cases the APOLOGIES would be meaningless, insincere & achieve bugger all. By the way the APOLOGY from China may not eventuate!
Nick
Roar Guru
I don't see how the bunker has made any material difference to the old video review system. Go down the path of cricket, tennis and the NFL and captains challenge it. The first week with the captains challenge was fantastic. Brought the players back down to reality when they had to accept that they were capable of making mistakes. Will Hopoate's challenge was hilariously bad.
Aiden
Guest
Ha! Good title.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
I don't know what to think of the bunker Dane. There's almost a sense that it's use of technology for technology's sake. Or use of technology to save referees and the game from embarrassment when a "howler" is made. And yet, there are times when the bunker correctly rights a referee's incorrect decision. But then we have to watch interminable replays from different directions, and it can take a lot of time. Opponents of the bunker are often referred to tennis where technology does seem to do well for the game. But then tennis is a totally different operating environment. I've often wondered if the need for the bunker is allied to the need for risk management for the gambling agencies. On balance, I think that just relying on the 3 officials on the field adds to the theatre of a league game, despite errors that will inevitably occur. So, I have a decision - ban the bunker.
1.5 metres please
Guest
Great work !
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Dane, I wonder where the pandemic and the bunker rate on the "arfa scale"? Both are disruptive, what with over eager police clamping down on suspicious looking kebab eaters, while the bunker draws comparisons, with reviews of tries Blind Freddy has already sorted out. In case you're new to this technology, the arfa scale measures the number of times people say "arfa *****s sake" and resigned sighs and silent whisperings don't count.
kk
Roar Pro
Strewth Dane, throw Todd a toga. You do not mention him by name, but your wit leaves him like a 'Wati' knowing full well that the Bunker was his capstone contribution to the GGoA. Personnel just need to undergo the most stringent eye testing before appointment, a necessity seemingly ignored to date. Besides, if you chop the Bunker you may as well turn Kiwi and ban bonking ready to fly discount Virgin when next we fly. 'a legal concept known as 'act of God' or 'whenever Cameron Smith says so' equates to an eagle on a par 4. Eldridge excellence.
Adam
Roar Guru
I must admit to being indifferent to the buunker. At risk of turning too serious, I think they should have KPIs that they have to meet in relation to time. Not a shot clock, but another spreadsheet! It doesn't need to be a public document, but part of their weekly review. Because 90% of the time the first replay shows what the call should be, any doubtful ones should just remain with the call on the field
Nat
Roar Guru
Tenuous at first but brought it home well. Very good. :happy: