The pros and cons of the NRL's one-ref move

The questions from any change in the game are.. 1) Why are you doing it? (what are you trying to achieve) 2) What will the game flow/look like after the change 3) How will this rule be exploited and will it add another issue. 4) Will this stop ref clangers or poor decisions or make it worse? Answers .. please add or debate? 1) Consistancy of calls? 2) One ref games in tests are generally slower games. Ref can't watch the ruck and 10. 3) It could lead to more wrestle while the ref is getting back onside and looking at the 10. 4) No...refs will always make bad calls because the rules are weighted towards them having to guess on certain issues especially if not in the right position. (6 again Grand final call?)

I like the idea for the six again to let the game flow. Perhaps a solution is to give a penalty inside the defensive half. Or perhaps this is an opportunity for a captains call for the penalty option.

I will reserve my opinion till about 5 games in it could be a good move and it also could be a really bad one. The thing i liked about 2 refs another set of eyes on of side behaviour when touchies were asleep also the odd backfeild altercation. And the other thing being tossed around the favouritism for one team over another by the man with the single whistle, but this dosen't happen does it . Lets wait and see will be interesting.

I don’t mind it, however it does present a problem in late game situations. You can slow the game down as much as you want defending your own line with a 1 point lead and a minute left on the clock because now the ref can’t blow a penalty at all let alone being reluctant to.

Looks like some of the refs are arching up. Seeing what happens to the refs cut. Every time someone object's V'Landys says they are alarmists or I'll informed . This bloke is leaving no stone unturned to achieve his goals. And anyone who doesn't agree gets brushed aside.

One Ref. It’s a man’s game. No whining.

For me, the one ref was fine. It was always the TV commentators and stations doing endless replays to try and prove a ref wrong. The touchies need to do more in supporting the ref.

the referring with 2 refs and the bunker was the same standard as one ref referring was already having an influence on the results

Love it. However the other change being looked at should be discarded immediately. Eliminate ruck penalties. Madness. One step forward and two back. Give another 6 instead of a penalty. get the penalty and start the six from downfield. Have these clowns thought this out?

Half the refs. Half the errors. Sounds good.

Was working fine with two refs. Yet again in the NRL rose colored glasses are used by grumpy old ex-players/men to push their nostalgia agenda. With one ref there will be more mistakes that can not be corrected by the bunker. There will be less control over the ruck. The ref will be more fatigued at the end of the game. Touch judges will make more mistakes because most of them are blind. Lastly the two ref system evened out the ref as an individual factor in the weekends games. Having one ref will start people/teams having a preferred ref (the number 1 ref gets the big games with the big teams each week the lower teams get the duds). The choice of ref will start to have an influence on the result. NOT a good thing.

Listening to referees talk about it on NRL podcasts, they all really like it. So I wonder which way they’ll advocate at the end of the season.

I think we need to look at recent experiences of one referees to see if this is the right way to go. I've watch a few English super league games as well as the Club Challenge and some Test matches. All of these games have had only one ref and all were managed extremely well. I certainly didn't see any glaring errors, so why not revert to what worked for the past part of a century. I also saw a quote from Hasler about this issue on the NRL website I thought was amusing I don't think we should go back to one referee," he said. "I don't think we should do anything that changes the structure of the season." No worries Des, the 2020 season will be structured just like every other season. :happy:

One ref is a great move. Next get rid of the bunker One ref, 2 touchies, 2 in-goal touchies.

I think it's a great idea, I hope it is ongoing as I never liked the 2 refs idea. The fact that it is looked upon as a cost saver does of course bring into focus the elephant in the room. The financial vulnerability of the NRL, AFL, ARU and nearly every other sporting organisation has been highlighted in current events and brings into question how much longer they can carry professional women's teams that cannot pay their way. It's true that they receive corporate sponsorship and government funding but there is still a cost for the Leagues. I might be judging the situation too harshly, so it might be helpful if we had an article with your thoughts Adrian .

I am all for this move. I never did like the two ref thing as one ref always takes the lead anyway and now that we have the Captain's challenge, I really don't think that we need it so much. Then if it is saving a few dollars then I am all for it.

I don’t mind the idea but are they looking to increase the bunker’s powers as compensation/assistance? Even with assistance I don’t mind, the only league game in the world that has 2 is the NRL and the rest are managing ok. It will make the game faster I believe but it will open up the chance for misssed calls and/or mistakes. We’re just going to have to live with that (he says knowing full well the impending blow ups are inevitable).