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Daniel Eastwood is a former NRL Touch Judge, running the lines between 2008 and 2014. He officiated in the 2011 Grand Final and State of Origin series.
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“I'll be asking those two referees to not be officiating in Game 2,” declared New South Wales State of Origin coach Laurie Daley after…
When I was still a kid, yet old enough to stay up later than 8:30pm, I would sometimes flick through the free-to-air channels and…
If the National Rugby League wants to continue to describe itself as 'the greatest game of all', it had better take a look in…
A second-half blitz with four tries in the final 20 minutes saw the Canberra Raiders prevail over the Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday. Yet it…
The boardroom situation at the Parramatta Eels has still not been resolved. After the damning interim NRL findings were released at the beginning of…
Reading of Darcy Lussick's mother's passing last week and his wonderful tribute to her reminded me of the time I had to deal with…
The rep weekend has come and gone, with only one more year to come around in its current format. And again, just like clockwork,…
Tuesday was the greatest day the recent history of the Eels. For the supporters of that club and all the people involved from the…
What a round of rugby league we just witnessed! The game came together from both sides of the Tasman to devote a weekend of…
Let's get it out there from the start – the golden point in the National Rugby League is far from golden. It's an exhibition…
I enjoyed seven years of my life as an NRL match official, with the start of the week to the end of the week…
The NRL's bunker looked decidedly shaky over Round 5. Yet the errors that referee's elite performance manager Tony Archer has admitted is not the…
When I was in year three at primary school, the class was given a map of Sydney Harbour. There were the usual Sydney icons…
For thirteen days in October 1962 the world was a dropped-ball away from nuclear war. United States President Barack Obama is in Cuba this…
For many years, Cronulla used a shark mascot named MC Hammerhead. His namesake's biggest hit 'You Can't Touch This' should be the NRL's theme…
Some of the NRL's regulations are shambolic. Nothing illustrated this in the first round of the NRL's 2016 season more than the disjointed and…
Autumn – the prince of seasons - heralds kick-off to the greatest game of all as rugby league gets underway for 2016. Summer is…
There is a rugby league revolution going on in North America right now – and it has nothing to do with Jarryd Hayne. Starting…
Dave Smith will leave rugby league next month. I won't miss him, I won't feel sorry for him, and I won't feel like he's…
The NRL grand final is the pinnacle of the season for the officials. State of Origin games, Test matches – they are all left…
Sorry to hear that Carl. All the best.
Darcy Lussick's bravery, and how you perform after losing your mum
There have been different models empoloyed over that last 15 years – both on 10m, both on ruck, one up one back. I like having one on the ruck and one on the 10m, Bill harrigan brought that back in 2011 to combat the forward passes out of dummy half. No it seems to be a combination of them.
De-Bunked: Ricky Stuart shows unusual restraint after golden point loss
Entering the field of play has basically disappeared because the audio communication between officials has filled that role. The touchie can talk to the ref without having to go over to him. It is still permissible to go on, approach the referee and report foul play. It would have been the best way to handle last night’s situation.
De-Bunked: Ricky Stuart shows unusual restraint after golden point loss
This is where I get to use a ‘back in my day’ scenario.
I used to miss plenty of high shots when I was an official. They can happen very quickly and I was not always certain where the ‘point of contact’ was eg. if the arm had deflected off the shoulder into the head.
In last night’s case there was no doubt where Austin was hit. Everyone saw the result, even if they missed the offence. The near side touch judge should have told Ash Klein ‘I’m on Ash’, and trots on the field and says: “Austin was hit high by Thompson”, at which point the referee awards a penalty and we’ve got the right result. It’s a simple method of getting the call right, within the roles of the match official, even if it looks a little clunky.
The guys last night seemed paralysed by the bunker. Once the guys with the video failed to intervene, nobody else did either.
De-Bunked: Ricky Stuart shows unusual restraint after golden point loss
Cool – some people have been telling me I’ve been too defensive today. Back to anecdotes and no facts next week!
The rep weekend proved it, two referees are the way to go
You seem to be very well informed. I don’t even have NRL notices going back to 2001!
It wasn’t my intention to deliberately mislead anyone with stats. I used the pre-2009 information to illustrate why a change was needed. The evidence provided to coaches and the NRL also included heart rate zones over the 80 minutes. The two ref model has changed as well.
We still haven’t won the battle of the ruck v the players and coaches. The standing tackle is the one that now takes a lot of time.
The rep weekend proved it, two referees are the way to go
The guys all come through the grades controlling matches on their own, so they would love to do NRL games on their own. Having said that, they all understand the benefits of having the pocket ref there. Not just for helping in the ruck , but taking up a position on the 10m after a change of possession and a long break, adjudicating at the scrum while senior ref is with the defence etc.
The rep weekend proved it, two referees are the way to go
Ok – I’m not here to upset people. I won’t mention rugby again (I’m not qualified to discuss it anyway)
The rep weekend proved it, two referees are the way to go
No PJM, it’s not what league has become – it’s just what I am. If you’re looking for anything positive about rugby union you’ve come to the wrong place.
The rep weekend proved it, two referees are the way to go
Have you read anything else I’ve written on this site the past to years, Red Dog? I’m not interested in protecting the referees or their jobs.
The rep weekend proved it, two referees are the way to go
Thanks for taking the time to comment so thoroughly Don.
The video ref has never been permitted to rule on forward passed. You have omitted that Souths re-entered the competition in 2002 and conceded 817 points, then 758 and 812 in subsequent years fore they were able to compete again. I feel this skewed the average points. Remember Manly were also terrible in 2003 (791 points conceded).
I’d also argue that there is nothing to say points scored would not have declined further if not for the second ref.
The rep weekend proved it, two referees are the way to go
Kit I mentioned it because it is the main competitor to league for the Pacific countries. Every now and again I switch over to a union game to see if I’m missing any entertainment. I did so on Saturday night and saw the Waratahs v [insert other team here] but I don’t think there were any more points scored from the 60th minute.
The rep weekend proved it, two referees are the way to go
I think this will come HarryT. The NRL has been clear in stating this is an ‘interim’ report so there will be a lot more forthcoming. I also hope we see detailed evidence.
Why Tuesday was the greatest day in Parra's recent history
They will need to move some players on to other clubs. Junior Paulo is signed with Canberra for 2017 so if he leaves early it frees up some cap space. It remains to be seen how willing clubs are to accept players this year. UK Super League msy be an option.
Why Tuesday was the greatest day in Parra's recent history
You make some good points Chris. I asked for a challenge system last year http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/07/22/ive-seen-enough-a-video-ref-challenge-must-be-introduced/ yet we don’t seem to be any closer to realising it. With this year of the faster replays via the Bunker we might see it trialled late in the year.
Diving, the new scourge of the NRL
He’s playing in the UK. He was with the ill-fated ‘Celtic Crusaders’ for a season before that franchised collapsed leaving a lot of players out of pocket. I’m not sure who he’s with now.
Golden point has lost its gleam
Extra time is one solution because one penalty won’t necessarily decide a game. If a team is penalised for being offside on the first minute and they slot the two points, there are still 8 more minutes to score a try and take the lead. That might mean a few penalties and keeping the teams apart each play the ball.
Golden point has lost its gleam
That makes sense. I am not a supporter of offering different competition points values for different games (eg both teams get a point after 80 then another up for grabs in golden point). Great idea.
Golden point has lost its gleam
Right or wrong, referees don’t want to be seen as refereeing only one team. There is a perception that even-numbered penalty counts means that the players have decided the match rather than the referee. You might be on to something …
My gripe as an ex-referee? Rubbish signals, and just plain rubbish
Good summary The Barry – Billy had to work at it over many years. As for Origin games, they are the best players the states can offer so they are mainly the most disciplined as well. Add to that the massive benefit a penalty provides in a (normally) very close Origin contest and players are less likely to transgress.
My gripe as an ex-referee? Rubbish signals, and just plain rubbish
I want to know who will play the role of the offending ball
The Knights' second ball conspiracy
Boo as much as you like, Epiquen – just don’t do it after a tap where your team is 35m out on tackle 1. The whole game is theatre though, every aspect of it. You’re right about that!
My gripe as an ex-referee? Rubbish signals, and just plain rubbish
I like it! I have 100 such stories of litterimg incidents that have threatened to escalate out of control. I take photos of people in their cars and they jump out indignant ready to bash me, or I’ll pick up the McDonalds drink they dropped out the window and throw it at their windscreen so ice sprays all over it. Actually, I think it’s me who has the problem …
My gripe as an ex-referee? Rubbish signals, and just plain rubbish
Hi Parra Fan,
Thanks for the ‘quota’ sledge. If I don’t want to write a column then I won’t.
1. Don’t sugarcoat it – Monday’s crowd was pathetic when I was hearing all month about how the fans would ‘stick by their team’. Also, in Australia rugby league is a winter sport.
2. The PDRL was dissolved because they weren’t doing what the Eels board told them.
3. Agreed. Finally some proper governance.
4. If you’re not interested in new ideas that’s fine.
5. I mentioned Brad Arthur’s involvement in a column last year. Rouse Hill siphon players from other clubs like Quakers Hill.
With the board in disarray, are Parra's juniors a takeover target?