Bearfax
Grizzly old fart
The question regarding the quality of refereeing comes up weekly followed by the usual silence from the NRL and if we are lucky a passing comment by the head of referees. We know it is a tough role to play, but these guys are being paid big money to get it right, and too often they don't. Add to this that there are clubs as shown by stats that are treated with kid gloves, especially the favoured News Ltd teams, while others constantly get hammered. And yet coaches have to sit back and take it, watch carefully what they say in interviews, pretend that all is sweet.
The NRL is a limp wristed authority that wont or don't want to seriously address this issue. Perhaps it suits their agenda, perhaps they just find it too hard to deal with, in which case they shouldn't be in the job.
Its time for the game to grow up and face the problem head on. Coaches shouldn't be gagged and told to discuss it with Annesley behind closed doors where it can be easily dismissed, which obviously happens week after week. The NRL need to stand up from this cowardly approach to the problem and face it head on. Certainly coaches need to be respectful and try as best they can to be even handed, but they should have, like the fans, an open forum to discuss and be answered regarding their grievances over refereeing blunders (or bias). If this is not done it gives refs a carte blanche to do whatever they want on the field without explanation. They should not be a protected species anymore than the players and coaches are. They must be held accountable.
The NRL is a limp wristed authority that wont or don't want to seriously address this issue. Perhaps it suits their agenda, perhaps they just find it too hard to deal with, in which case they shouldn't be in the job.
Its time for the game to grow up and face the problem head on. Coaches shouldn't be gagged and told to discuss it with Annesley behind closed doors where it can be easily dismissed, which obviously happens week after week. The NRL need to stand up from this cowardly approach to the problem and face it head on. Certainly coaches need to be respectful and try as best they can to be even handed, but they should have, like the fans, an open forum to discuss and be answered regarding their grievances over refereeing blunders (or bias). If this is not done it gives refs a carte blanche to do whatever they want on the field without explanation. They should not be a protected species anymore than the players and coaches are. They must be held accountable.