You need a medal for wading through all the Anus-y crap each week. But I must admit I'm intrigued in how he tries to justify on field mistakes.
I do take exception to his comment rubbishing calls (mine included) about reviewing things in 'real time'. To him I say: If you want us to watch RL in stop-frame then issue us all with the necessary high-technology goggles to be able to change perception. Give a pair to all the officials too, because my eyes keep deceiving me.
I hate the way we now have to wait for CSI to rule before we can celebrate a try; it kills the moment, and when the fate of a match is decided by Big Brother declaring a player's intention on stop frame 'evidence' then you know technology has killed the sport that Tina Turner so correctly espoused: "What you see is what you get".
Not now you don't.
Thank you.
🙂
EDIT: He justifies ref's mistakes by saying "they are human and players also make mistakes."
I've heard him roll this line out, especially when there's been a howler or two and the media are ripping in. Sometimes he says 'the ref should have seen that and given a penalty'. - he said that this week.
If it is a big "game costing" one, he'll whine about everyone is human so "leave Brittany alone".
He justifies the high def fame by frame analysis by saying that the technology is there and if the nrl say this about a double movement (for example): "well the ball only
just brushed the grass so...we'll rule a play on", then the team on the other side will scream about the wrong call and say "the rule is there and the vision is there."
Annesley says as the technology is available for coaches, media, uncle nick, and the powers at be to review the game to ensure the correct decisions are made, then the referees (and the bunker) really have no option but to rule the game as such.
Now...this doesn't for such discrepancies like how they review on millimetre actions, yet allow kickers taking penalties 2 to 3 metres in front of where the ref blew the whistle and set the mark.
Now I'm not offering you an opinion either way, I was just trying to say what he says just in case you weren't sure of the justifications.
I'm sure we could all find a lot of things they 'let go' in the interest of continuity - which he also says the nrl are striving for each week (a free flowing game).
~deep breath~