Let's trial a NRL match WITHOUT the Bunker

[The Who]

In the final round there are two matches which are virtually meaningless: Tits V Wests, and Eels V Newcastle, providing a perfect opportunity to trial a few different rules. The most contentious, by far, is the Bunker.
Introduced to 'stop the 'howlers' it has done the opposite, as seen in every match. The system is far from perfect, made worse by the fact that it can't rule on forward passes -- even the most glaring. It also is very costly and creates stoppages in play and fan engagement.
Sport is never perfect, which is part of its charm, and it is proven every match in RL that technolgy is not the panacea. While it may work in a sport like tennis where it is just ruling on white lines, even in cricket there are grave doubts about the accuracy of DRS and reliance on tele-vision to adjudge a low catch that may or may not have touched a blade of grass.
Let's see if the NRL can do without The Bunker. After all, it has managed to survive every other level of RL.

 

[manlyfan76]

DRS works well and works within its margin of error. So much so that the tech is now being used in the MLB.

 

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

Bring back Billy Harrigan!

 

[MissKate]

It’s not the process that’s the problem it’s the operators. If it’s not their blatant bias or their total lack of feel for the game it’s just their total uselessness

 

[The Who]

It’s not the process that’s the problem it’s the operators. If it’s not their blatant bias or their total lack of feel for the game it’s just their total uselessness

I think there is a problem with a system supposed to identify and correct mistakes which only officiates on certain aspects of the play. Not being technically capable of telling if a pass goes forward is a huge red flag that the system is far from accurate. Not being able to go back more than one play to rule on the legitimacy of a try is another. It makes The Bunker a part-time system, like restricting a policeman from investigating certain crimes.
For me, The Bunker ruins the flow of our sport. It creates dead time and confusion. It takes much of the spontanety and joy from celebrating a 'try' because, like every fan, I've felt deflated so many times when The Bunker 'sees' something no-one else has and makes a contary ruling.
What about the cost of the system? Surely that could be spent on grass roots RL? What about the fact that The Bunker has become the most important person in a RL match -- the only one that can make a binding ruling -- and has become the biggest target to be corrupted?

 

[XV-1]

Can you add a choice of only using the bunker when a try is scored.

The rest of the game can be run by the ref and the 2 touch judges.

 

[Disco]

I fear there is no going back.

Its not working well atm but if we get rid of it what will happen is then the first mistake or try wrongly or rightly given that the bunker would have otherwise caught happens everyone will blow up deluxe.

 

[The Who]

I fear there is no going back.

Its not working well atm but if we get rid of it what will happen is then the first mistake or try wrongly or rightly given that the bunker would have otherwise caught happens everyone will blow up deluxe.

Perhaps, but remember when the NRL introduced two referees? Eventually it was abandoned.