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Opinion
The captain’s challenge is in the spotlight at the moment with claims and counter claims about how it’s being used.
Is it a worthwhile addition to the game among the many rule changes that have flooded into the NRL in recent years?
Teams have been exploiting the rule by deliberately conceding a penalty to stop play because the referee had missed an incident in the lead-up.
Should the NRL get rid of the captain’s challenge, keep it at one per game or increase the chances a team gets to question a refereeing decisions?
Keep as is. I like the concept for which it was originally intended. But just like the Taxation department, coaches and players are trying to take advantage of the loopholes that have been created.
Refs have to take a strong stance and not be intimidated by captains on the field.
Keep as is. But if a team gives away a penalty to force a captain’s challenge make it mandatory that a player gets 10 in the bin if they’re wrong. That’ll stop 50-50 calls being questioned and players will know that if they get it wrong, it’ll be very costly.
Increase it. I can clearly see the downside of having too many stoppages. Expanding the number of captain’s challenges will absolutely see more stoppages, with sides almost certain to more freely use one at the start of the game to win the initial arm wrestle, and even as a tool to stop momentum.
However, in spite of those concerns, I’m in favour of one per half. Accompanying this expansion must be very clear guidance in regard to sides who engineer stoppages in play in order to challenge decisions – or non-decisions – as that is one very big Pandora’s box right there. While I can certainly see why a side would do it if something has been missed, if they are wrong then they’ve performed a professional foul. That should always be a sin-binning.
Increase it. Give each team 2 and be 100% clear with EVERYONE about when they can be used. I’d also suggest 14 of the 16 teams review their own use of the challenge because there are just some diabolical wastes happening that impact a team later in a game.
I reckon it’s also worth looking into making them a ‘coach’s challenge’ because they’ve got video replays in the box (it won’t happen, I just think it should).
Keep as is. I enjoy the ‘Captain’s Challenge’ and in my view it should absolutely stay as is. But like most things in rugby league, it’s about consistency. Whether you think what the Titans did on Saturday is within the spirit or the game or not, we need clear messaging on whether that type of challenge is allowed or not. I can understand player and fan frustration when rule interpretations seem to change each week.
Keep or increase. The more captain’s challenges provided, the more frivolous they will become – 1 or 2 per game appears to be a fair number and I’d be happy either way. However, I would like to see the Commission think more of entertainment and take the bold step of perhaps setting a yearly total number of challenges available to each team, perhaps 30, with their use at the digression of the captain and how aggressive he chooses to be with them.
Team A might use eight in the first round whereas team B refuses to use any and saves them up for the final half of the season when the stakes are raised somewhat. I’d also like to see any left-over challenges roll-over into the semi-finals, where two teams could meet with 10+ challenges up their sleeve and we can subsequently watch a game of rugby league that lasts for three and a half hours!
Keep as is. Keep it the same.
I absolutely love the Captain’s Challenge, and as we saw on Saturday night – even though the tactics weren’t Kosher – the challenges were necessary as the referee had missed what the Titans were questioning.
It’s a shame that with a referee, two touch judges and a bunker that things still get missed, but human error is unfortunately inevitable, and if a team feels there has been an incorrect call I like that they have the chance to question it. And I also love when the challenge is unsuccessful and the ref looks back at the player with a bit of a smug look like “should have listened to me in the first place!”
Keep as is. Captain’s Challenge is a decent idea and I like it as it is. If they did more, we’d see even more of the timewasting aspect of it, but I’d not get rid of it completely. That said, I watch plenty of Super League without it and don’t miss it at all, but then I also watch NSW Cup without any bunker and don’t really miss it either. Guess you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube…
Keep as is. One is probably the right amount to have. A ref getting it wrong is frustrating but the fact we see so many challenges end up unsuccessful should remind us that we’re dealing with people, people make mistakes, and sometimes you’ve just got to cop it on the chin and get on with the game. So yeah, you get to question the ref, but if you’re wrong even once, then you’re done for the day.
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