Audio has emerged from last night’s NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and Parramatta Eels where referee Gerard Sutton tells the Broncos not to bother reviewing a decision.
Sutton was widely praised for how he handled the first game back. He was the sole on-field referee after the NRL opted for cut backs from the two-referee system.
Not only did Sutton have to deal with being the man in charge but he had new rules to contend plus the relatively new review rule where the on-field decisions can be challenged.
Early in the second half the ball was judged to have come off a Bronco player for a line drop out. After a brief moment Sutton alerted the players that it had already been reviewed upstairs and there was no point challenging the ruling.
It was a frank statement and it prevented the Broncos from burning a review. While it all worked out in this instance should referees have any influence on whether the players go upstairs or not?
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
I have no problem with it, for it prevents time wasting doing it again & getting the same result. I think it was pretty sportsmanlike of him and he had a pretty decent game except with his knock on interpretations.........propelled toward the opponents dead in goal line Mr Sutton not their own...
Dan
Guest
No problem with Sutton telling them it had already been reviewed. Big problem with how Bunker missed it came off Blake's knee and not Oates! Pretty obvious.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
How is that helping? Oates didn’t touch it.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Fair enough Jimmy, but if the ref knows its been reviewed, why not tell them? Why should burning a review be a risk in itself? There are limited reviews to stop endless reviews, but there is no justice served by a review being wasted because there was never going to be a chance of it even being considered. Frankly I'd prefer no reviews, but do it as openly as possible or not at all.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
The problem is Rob that sometimes the Ref will know it has been reviewed and will tell the player. Sometimes he will not tell the player. Sometimes the play will have been reviewed but the Ref doesn't know it yet and sometimes the initial quick review will turn out to be incorrect when they have a longer look. It's impossible to be consistent with this so the best solution is 'I know nothing.'
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Telling them a review has already been conducted is simply telling them the truth. Players are entitled to make a decision with all the facts in mind. If the ATO made a tax ruling on something and then didn't tell anyone and let taxpayers waste their money fighting an adverse assessment, would that be acceptable? I think that would be a public scandal.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Nah, thats poor from Sutton. Look he had a pretty good game last night and a lot on his plate but giving advice on a review is not part of the process. What next , players asking for advice on the chance of a review being successful.?