The NRL won’t remove video technology as part of its coronavirus cost-cutting, but there will be some small changes made in the bunker.
The NRL will cut costs in their bunker but the video referee system won’t become a victim of coronavirus money saving.
The ARL Commission is expected to endorse a proposal this week to return to having just one on-field referee for the first time since 2008.
The move will save the NRL casual rates during the coronavirus pandemic, as they continue to use their full-time officials each weekend.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters on Monday also called for the bunker to be scrapped, claiming it hadn’t had the effect promised when it was introduced in 2016.
But while small changes will be made at the high-tech Sydney base, the NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley said the system will remain in place.
“We’re looking at some cost-cutting measures there, not that they will be noticeable. The bunker will still do its job in matches,” Annesley said.
“There are some internal mechanisms where there are potential to cut some costs.
“We are looking at that at the moment but it won’t be obvious to the general public when they see games take place.”
The bunker comes at a cost of around $2 million per year, after being set up by Todd Greenberg in 2016 as a replacement for having video referees at each ground.
The league has been adamant it has since delivered more accurate decisions, with the multiple screens allowing for far quicker calls to be made.
The lack of a video referee was laid bare in this year’s NRL Nines, when Penrith were robbed of a quarter-final win after an illegal St George-Illawarra try on the buzzer.
Traditionally, the game has employed in-goal officials at both ends before the video referee was first introduced during the 1997 Super League season.
But Walters called for video officials to again be removed with more impetus placed on the on-field referee in a back-to-the-future move.
“The bunker, when we are looking at trying to save some month, I think it came up with some good little plans,” Walters told Sky Sports Radio.
“But overall I think most people would say it didn’t have the influence over our game people would like it would have.
“I’m a big believer in instant decisions and putting some more responsibilities on our referees.
“They are going to make mistakes. Just like the players do every week, coaches make mistakes and linesmen make mistakes.
“When you’re brought up as a kid it’s about accepting the referee’s decision right or wrong.”
Walters also said he was a fan of going back to one referee, arguing the best games are those without increased penalty counts.
Ron Norton
Guest
Hear! Hear! Good one Duncan. Save heaps of money and right decision 99% of the time.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
It would interest me to know whether part of the bunker's function is to improve risk management for the gambling industry. This industry doesn't rate much mention on these boards, but it's a part of the wider RL scene. Just look at the ads during the games. And remember, whatever you do, do it responsibly.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Ah yes the memories of "contested" scrums, cheap hits, crocked refs and blind touchies, toe poking goal kickers digging up the ground, and the bucket with a sponge. The game was better then, not really just 40 years ago.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Slight exaggeration in the 20 times, I actually enjoy the super slomo in HD of a winger magically flying through the air to do the impossible. Can watch that over and over. If you are sick of replays getting rid of the bunker will not have much effect as the TV will still show replays and as night follows day Refs and touchies alone will get it wrong. But for some the game was always better in their memory and will never be happy with any changes and will sook on and on and on especially if they have a microphone.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Yeah, look initially i supported the intro of the bunker because I thought it would get rid of the ' howler.' The TV stations would show a bad decision over and over so I thought great the bunker will fix this, but like so many things there were unnintended consequences. Now we show a put down twenty times and it's no clearer on replay 20 than it was on replay one. It takes all the joy out of scoring a try. I think an answer maybe in the captains challenge. No bunker at all unless it's challenged , one challenge per side as now and you lose it if you are wrong. Adding the captains challenge and keeping the try reviews has just made it worse.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
Jimmmy, I think you've got a good point. I've really got over the number of times the bunker view of the "action" gets played over and over again. It sometimes adds clarity to things, but it also sometimes arrives at nothing at all, or agrees with the referee anyway. I sometimes feel like an artificially inseminated cow about the bunker. I know something wonderful is happening but I'm not sure what.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I can recall when I first started watching games in the 60's & a "try" was scored, the referee (there was only one) would look at both touch judges & if their flags weren't raised, a try was awarded. No bunker back then. There were mistakes made however the game proceeded a lot quicker.
kk
Roar Pro
Nat,I also calculated it at $10K per game and to have a Bex and a good lay down.
Walter Black
Guest
Not a fan of the bunker either however unless you are going to stop Ch9/Fox et al from doing replays on TV then you have got to have it. Nothing worse than the ref not giving a try because he was unsighted only for tv to run endless replays showing it was. Imagine that on the last play in a GF.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
A fair chunk would come from paying fees to use the tech.
jamesb
Roar Guru
Yeah lets save the bunker and get rid of NRL digital instead :unhappy:
Clanger McClunk
Roar Rookie
I'm no fan of the bunker but it should stay. One proviso I would like to see in the bunker is a shot clock on the video refs to avoid the multiple replays. If they don't have a decision in a certain time then it goes back to ref's decision. The one ref should work well even though coaches will come up with something to make it harder. I like the idea of restarting the tackle count instead of a penalty for ruck infringements. While we are changing rules another I'd like to see is the replacement number reduced to six, 3 in the first half, 3 in the second and if the first three are not used then they are lost, use them or lose them. This would bring fatigue back into the game giving the smaller blokes a better chance to shine.
Nat
Roar Guru
How on earth does the bunker cost $2m to run? When that was the number touted to set it up, fair enough, tech ain't cheap. Otherwise $75k a round, <$10k per game on what? They sound like they are talking to the production team anyway when called upon for a decision so I can't see where this is going.
Joe
Roar Rookie
If we're going back to 1 referee than definitely need the bunker and video replays. That absolute howler in the 9s semis should not be repeated in the NRL,.. especially in a Finals game.
Nick
Roar Guru
He's been doing that since he was a ref. All part of his brand.
Nat
Roar Guru
Even Bill is getting a little 'Gould-ish' in his favouritism of his own voice. When I get the chance to listen to them on radio he was always forthright, which I don't mind, but when he's tearing strips off them for mistakes he made with the whistle, I feel he's losing touch for the sake of a headline.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm no fan of the bunker, DB, but I'm even less a fan of the abuse that's regularly heaped on referees, not only by media & fans, but by guys within the NRL - Annesley for one. If refs can make decisions without being abused, both through the media and physically, then lets get rid of the bunker, but if not, IMO it has to stay. Completely agree with your comments about the control given to Rugby refs. I'd love to see guys get marched in the NRL, the way they carry on.
Nick
Roar Guru
He might have been brought up to accept refs decisions but the players these days don’t, judging by how many charge towards the ref when a try is scored, arguing about rules as thought they’re the experts. 100%. Led by the head of the referees union - Cam Smith.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Of all the important things that shoukd survive, they pick this lemon. Oh yeah, let's watch that totally unclear, inaccurate view of a put down one more time. One more watch and it will become magically clear. The excitement builds.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
If they want to save a couple of mill, just get Bill Harrigan to watch the replays on TV and text his decision from his lounge room.