There is one place which is undeniably the best spot to watch rugby league.
Fans of rugby league often discuss where the best place to watch the game is. Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium is often presented as the best full-day experience venue. Being interlocked with bars and restaurants makes it very appealing, along with its well designed seating plan and leg room.
Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval is another venue often suggested as a great place to watch a game. Rugby league fans who have been to the suburban ground, and who have romantically walked the small inner-city streets to get there, will wax lyrical about the wonderful experience later at the Orange Grove Hotel.
There are grounds in the ideological middle ground of these two, such as Wollongong’s WIN Stadium. These venues attract fans by being both easily accessible to the hustle and bustle of the town they are in, but small enough to feel intimately close to the action.
Although these spaces are great to watch rugby league, there is a better place.
In fact, there is no better place in the world to watch rugby league: the sideline. And the only way you can get an uninterrupted view from the sideline is by being the game’s touch judge.
(Image: Joe Frost)
Watching a game as a child at the ground, in between playing your own game on the hill, was challenging. The best way to try and keep up with the play was to slowly traverse the walkway up and down the field following the ball. Inadvertently this movement is the exact movement of the touch judge. It is their duty and privilege to watch the game as closely as you can without being a part of it.
This is an important distinction. In rugby league, referees are not passive arbiters like umpires and officials in other sports. A rugby league referee’s discretion impacts every play. Both mentally and physically, they are continuously active in the play.
The touch judge is not. Their role is to follow, side-galloping, walking, patiently stalking the play. They are quiet and supportive. Their job is just to watch the game and give a short and decisive opinion when asked.
They are in the position that every spectator dearly wants to be in: the best position to watch the game, having their opinion on the forward pass heard. It is the best place to watch rugby league.
For anyone keen to take the offer, they’ll pay you to do it. Not only will you be in the best space to watch the game, they pay you to do it. Get in contact with your local club and find out how you can get your flag, and your spot on the sideline.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Anywhere a game of league isn’t being played would be the ideal place
Big T
Roar Rookie
You put up a good case. Nothing like listen to Rampaging Roy Slaver mid rant.
Big T
Roar Rookie
yeah the crowd always rides those. We had one happen, and the margin ended up being 2. We copped it that afternoon from the hill... :laughing:
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yup - Bankwest is the best stadium I've been to from a vision point of view, bar none. Can't beat the hill in Wollongong though.
ppa19696837
Roar Rookie
I don't care where the ground is but I must generally sit somewhere between the 30 metre lines on an elevation for the occasions I go to live games (like 20 plus rows from the fence at the SFS or front of stand at SFS. Having said this, when I went to Bankwest Stadium, I tried a few positions as it wasn't packed out and even sitting behind the posts (elevated) was great to watch the game. That is a great place to watch any code I'd imagine.
Jaeger
Roar Rookie
You got me there Big T. Thought you were going to say the old fashion couch listening to Roy & HG.
matth
Roar Guru
I never ran the line in a league match. I did in soccer one time and coincidentally it led me to being first on the scene when a poor kid fractured his ankle. I was a bit queasy.
Big Daddy
Guest
I can remember a few years ago I was running the line because I was injured and a couple of conversion kicks which I waived away and the other guy called it ok. The next one was the opposite, I called it successful and the other guy waived it away. Fortunately for me the ref supported my ruling both times but geez did I cop it from the crowd . Thankless job.
Nat
Roar Guru
You'll love Magic rnd mate. The whole place has a vibe, the bars line the streets no matter what way you come to the ground and they're all full. Bring the kids, there's activities all around the stadium for them as well. There was a concern about a lack of atmosphere for non-Brisbane/Qld games but that was dispelled pretty quick as the locals are footy fans and can appreciate a good game. Example, I was with my boy out the front of the stadium when Ponga pulled that step on Foran for the try. The sound that echoed out of there, you knew something special had just happened.
Big T
Roar Rookie
First grade refereeing is done dependent on your contract and the games you are given. Very few are on full time contracts, and even fewer are specialist touch judges. At a local level, you get paid per game, and the amount you get depends on the age level of the players. Still yet to get to Lang Park. My first time there was suppose to be last weekend's Magic Round. I'll try again next year. :happy:
Nat
Roar Guru
I'll give it a shot. Having a guess at where the ball crossed the touch line and offering only "you better check that". I wonder what a Touchy earns? Do they get more if they have an opinion? With not too much more infratructure we could implement ball-tracking for 99% accuracy and do away with them completely. Best Ground: Event footy, Lang Park. A day at the footy: Suburban ground, full sunshine, a hill and enough refreshment stands not to waste half the game in line.