NRL sees flexibility as key to success of two referee system
Matt Marshall | January 28, 2009 11:00pm
ONE chief and one indian - that's one of several options at the disposal of NRL whistleblowers in policing rugby league's bold venture into the two-referee system in 2009.
At yesterday's official NRL refs and coaches meeting in Sydney, the practical details of how the game's officials will undertake the revolutionary on-field refereeing structure were officially unveiled.
Brisbane, who will be visited by two referees at training next month, were the only NRL club not represented, with Cowboys pair Neil Henry and Mick Crawley, and Titans assistant Trevor Gillmeister in attendance.
"Flexibility" was the key word arising from NRL referees boss Robert Finch, who revealed the on-field whistleblowers could share responsibilities "50-50 per cent or 80-20 per cent" depending on the experie nce of officials.
The controversial model has been introduced in the hope it will reduce stoppages, increase the pace of the game and eliminate wrestling.
In most cases the controlling referee will continue to be the man charged with policing the 10m.
He will stand with the defensive line while the new assistant referee roams in an area deemed the "pocket" - aiming to not interfere with the line of sight of any player.
The pocket is situated beyond the attacking players, directly behind the play-the-ball, posing a potential obstruction for the attacking fullback.
Should the ball be turned over mid-set, the assistant referee would likely assume control of the game as the roles reverse - however this will not be the case if a senior ref is paired with an up-and-comer.
"The bottom line is the system offers flexibility," Finch said. "We envisage one major benefit will be the turnover in possession. It happens so quickly and instead of the ref having to turn and chase, there will be a guy in position ready to go."
Cowboys coach Neil Henry, a key advocate of the system alongside World Cup Test coach Ricky Stuart and Penrith's Matt Elliott, is confident the new model coupled with a reduction of video ref powers will deliver a faster game with fewer disruptions and improved on-field decision- making.
"The general consensus was that it's a good thing," Henry said.
"I'm pretty comfortable with how it will be policed. The assistant will be there primarily as a second set of eyes.
"He has the power to call out but he will talk a lot to the referee and provide the referee with extra vision on key indicators. Tests have shown under the new model that the heart rates of referees won't be as elevated. It's less taxing so this should have a positive effect on decision-making."
Among the chief concerns of the major rule overhaul is the fact the system has been introduced after relatively limited trialling at NRL level.
Other key worries are that frustrations for players, coaches and fans could be multiplied by inconsistencies between the two different referees and that it may actually lead to more stoppages and interrupt the game's speed and flow.
The two-ref system also stands at odds with every junior and reserve grade competition in the code, including the Toyota Cup and Queensland Cup.
