Season 2005, widely recognised as one of the best seasons on record, with teams fighting for place and pride at both ends of the table and in the middle. Manly are left fighting to keep their spot in the finals as the Roosters and Panthers are nipping at their heels. 3 teams are battling for the minor premiership and there are still 2 teams in the race for the wooden spoon.
Crowds or flocking through the gates in record numbers and the game is enjoying a boom era and starting to stabilise after the chaos of the Super League war.
With this in mind, it is about time that we brought into question the level of refereeing and officialdom in the game. Whilst Ref’s will always get criticised for their efforts this season has seen a greater increase in bone head decisions and out right ridiculous calls. With the game looking to capitalise on the success of this season it is way past due that a higher level of professionalism be brought it to those that control the games. As fans we deserve the best and we don’t deserve ridiculous calls that see us leaving grounds angry due to some mistake that likely cost our side the game.
It is time that the game adopted full time referees, who are at the highest level and who are more than capable of running a game at the elite level. It is time for these referees to be held responsible for their calls and actions, to meet targets and to get it right.
The introduction of the video referee in 1998 proved successful and has added a level of re-assurance to the game making sure critical calls are reviewed and given full scrutiny. However since their introduction the level has begun to slip, now to the point where every week we have one story in regards to a call that was just so horribly incorrect and costly.
This is where the introduction of full time refs with targets, KPI’s and consequences could improve our game, it would improve the quality of decisions and improve the quality of our game.
Whilst we are on the subject I would at the same time like to question the need for touch judges in today’s game, these guys are becoming more and more reluctant to make a call on anything besides where the ball went out after a penalty kick or whether the ball went through the posts.
In all honesty if these guys wont make a call on a try, wont make a call on offside, a tackle or anything then why are they there? I just don’t see the point. They run up and down the sideline and shrug their shoulders whenever the ref asks them a question, we then go upstairs to the video ref. If all they are there to do is to wave their flags when the ball goes out then I am sure an infra red camera would do the same job at half the price.
I guess at the end of the day the point I am trying to get across is that as a professional sport there should be a certain level of professionalism in the officials who run the game on the field each week. The same complaints and publicity is rare amongst the other sports in Australia and you rarely hear complaints from the AFL, Rugby Union and other sports at the level you do from Rugby League. This isn’t because the supporters are more likely to call to attention, it is because so often the refs get it so damn wrong. Wake up NRL and lets bring the refs to the game that this game deserves!
Crowds or flocking through the gates in record numbers and the game is enjoying a boom era and starting to stabilise after the chaos of the Super League war.
With this in mind, it is about time that we brought into question the level of refereeing and officialdom in the game. Whilst Ref’s will always get criticised for their efforts this season has seen a greater increase in bone head decisions and out right ridiculous calls. With the game looking to capitalise on the success of this season it is way past due that a higher level of professionalism be brought it to those that control the games. As fans we deserve the best and we don’t deserve ridiculous calls that see us leaving grounds angry due to some mistake that likely cost our side the game.
It is time that the game adopted full time referees, who are at the highest level and who are more than capable of running a game at the elite level. It is time for these referees to be held responsible for their calls and actions, to meet targets and to get it right.
The introduction of the video referee in 1998 proved successful and has added a level of re-assurance to the game making sure critical calls are reviewed and given full scrutiny. However since their introduction the level has begun to slip, now to the point where every week we have one story in regards to a call that was just so horribly incorrect and costly.
This is where the introduction of full time refs with targets, KPI’s and consequences could improve our game, it would improve the quality of decisions and improve the quality of our game.
Whilst we are on the subject I would at the same time like to question the need for touch judges in today’s game, these guys are becoming more and more reluctant to make a call on anything besides where the ball went out after a penalty kick or whether the ball went through the posts.
In all honesty if these guys wont make a call on a try, wont make a call on offside, a tackle or anything then why are they there? I just don’t see the point. They run up and down the sideline and shrug their shoulders whenever the ref asks them a question, we then go upstairs to the video ref. If all they are there to do is to wave their flags when the ball goes out then I am sure an infra red camera would do the same job at half the price.
I guess at the end of the day the point I am trying to get across is that as a professional sport there should be a certain level of professionalism in the officials who run the game on the field each week. The same complaints and publicity is rare amongst the other sports in Australia and you rarely hear complaints from the AFL, Rugby Union and other sports at the level you do from Rugby League. This isn’t because the supporters are more likely to call to attention, it is because so often the refs get it so damn wrong. Wake up NRL and lets bring the refs to the game that this game deserves!
