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ARLC introduce rule changes for 2013 season

sretsoor

Juniors
Messages
636
The Australian Rugby League Commission has today approved the removal of the ‘benefit of the doubt’ call and supported a change in the way video referees are called on to make decisions in a meeting that has finalised a series of key on-field issues for 2013, including a resolution of State of Origin eligibility.
From 2013 no player will be eligible to play for NSW or Queensland unless he has lived in that state before the age of thirteen, or unless he is the son of an Origin player. The player must also be eligible to play for Australia.
“State of Origin is an incredibly important part of the game and the heart of the concept is a person’s state of origin,” ARL Commission Chairman, Mr John Grant, said today.
“It is fundamental therefore that the concept is preserved on that basis, simply because it is so unique.
“The Commission introduced a number of important changes to eligibility in 2012 that solved many of the previous arguments, but it did not solve all issues of international player eligibility.
“The Under 13 cut-off is one that has been put forward by the General Manager of Game Development, Andrew Hill, after consultation with greats like Wayne Bennett, Bob Fulton and Tim Sheens, the state leagues and the Origin coaches.”
The decision to alter the role of video referees is among recommendations put forward by the NRL General Manager of Football Operations, Mr Nathan McGuirk, after consultation with NRL Referees Elite Performance Manager Daniel Anderson and the NRL Competition Committee, also comprising Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens, Darren Lockyer, Ivan Cleary, Andrew Ryan, Laurie Daley and John Lang.
From 2013, referees will make an on-field call in relation to any try-scoring situation. In the event that the match referee has reservations regarding his original decision he will indicate “time out”, signal that the video referee is to be introduced and then signal his on-field decision.
Only in those cases where the video referee believes there is ‘sufficient’ evidence to suggest the on-field decision is incorrect will he overturn the decision. In either case the video referee will communicate the outcome via the scoreboard.
Having determined at its November meeting that the shoulder charge would be deemed an illegal tackle from 2013, the Commission has today approved an amendment to the NRL Rules that provides a definition of the outlawed tackle:
“Where a defender, without attempting to tackle, grab or hold the ball-carrier (or any opposing player) using the arms or hands, makes direct physical contact using the shoulder or the upper arm (tucked into the side).”
Under the amended NRL Judiciary Code Rules, players will no longer be automatically referred to the judiciary panel for illegal contact from shoulder charges.
Instead, penalties for shoulder charges under the NRL Judiciary Code will range from a base of 200 points (two-match suspension) for a Grade 1 charge increasing to 800 points for a Grade 5 charge.
The Commission has also expanded the trials of the Captain’s Challenge System for next year with each televised match in the Under 20s competition to use two referees and implement the challenge system that was trialled at the end of this season.
The introduction of the second referee in these games allows the Captain’s Challenge to be viewed in conditions reflective of an NRL match.
“There are only specific areas that can be challenged such as: a mandatory penalty; a loss of possession (knock-on, strip) where play is to recommence with a structured start; charge downs where play is to recommence with a structured start; and determining which team last played at the ball prior to the ball going into touch or touch in-goal,” Mr McGuirk said.
“Having trialled it in one game last year this is an opportunity to test the concept in a way that would allow us to make a clear recommendation about its future at NRL level.
“It will also introduce a number of our emerging talented referees into the two referee model in our elite competitions.”
http://www.roosters.com.au/news-display/ARLC-introduce-rule-changes-for-2013-season/66924
 

flippikat

First Grade
Messages
5,664
I have no problem removing the "benefit of the doubt" if the scoring action is in full view of the cameras - a player must clearly score a try for it to be awarded.


However, what if players from the defensive team obscure the action?

The situation where you see the player fall over the line, carrying the ball - and yet you don't see the forcing of the ball due to tacklers (or players in the defensive line) getting in front of the camera.

Under benefit of the doubt, you'd probably award the try - making the assumption that he must've grounded it.

For 2013, you can't - would this encourage the defense to obscure the cameras?
 

Timmah

LeagueUnlimited News Editor
Staff member
Messages
101,139
It's reminiscent of cricket's referral system, except it's only the referee who refers.

I mean that in the sense that there must be sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision.
 

Didgi

Moderator
Messages
17,260
From 2013, referees will make an on-field call in relation to any try-scoring situation. In the event that the match referee has reservations regarding his original decision he will indicate “time out”, signal that the video referee is to be introduced and then signal his on-field decision.
Only in those cases where the video referee believes there is ‘sufficient’ evidence to suggest the on-field decision is incorrect will he overturn the decision. In either case the video referee will communicate the outcome via the scoreboard.

This is a big step in the right direction and something I was advocating last season, albeit with the minor change that it's the on-field referee that goes upstairs. The on-field referee, if he has any doubts, should signal to the video referee either 'I think it's a try, prove me wrong' or 'I think it's not a try, prove me wrong'. This system is probably as close as we're going to get and should hopefully produce better results.

However, in true rugby league pessimist style I'm sure the referees will find some way to f**k it up monumentally.
 

Danish

Referee
Messages
32,052
The video referee changes are good. The shoulder charge rule is f**king disgraceful.

Why in the world would shoulder charges be graded worse than high tackles? Is contact with the head using the arm not as bad as contact with the head using the arm while its "tucked in" to the body?

I wish we could go just 1 year without some geniused change to the rules that will inevitably get changed again midway through the season as they realise "well shit, that didn't work too well, did it?"
 

Nuke

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
5,709
I must admit, I think that's a good way to do it. I was hesitent to like the changing of the rule (despite the many blatent errors that have occurred over the years), but making the ref make a decision first, THEN have the video ref look at it -I think- is a better system. It puts the onus back on the on-field ref, but with the security of having a video ref there to overturn the decision if it's clear enough he got it wrong.
 

eozsmiles

Bench
Messages
3,392
Sounds like instead of the ref calling for a video, he will make a decision then call for the video. Which will probably show lot's of mistakes - like it has in cricket - and give fans and commentators an extra chance to hang sh!t on the refs. And still take up time.
 

Canard

Immortal
Messages
36,916
I like the Origin changes.

The video ref stuff will have to be seen to be judged, seems okay.
 

Geohood

Bench
Messages
3,712
Very good (except the shoulder charge as everyone else has said)..

Maybe we should use hotspot and snicko to detect when players brush the ball with their finger etc.......? :)
 

skeepe

Post Whore
Messages
50,443
I have no problem removing the "benefit of the doubt" if the scoring action is in full view of the cameras - a player must clearly score a try for it to be awarded.


However, what if players from the defensive team obscure the action?

The situation where you see the player fall over the line, carrying the ball - and yet you don't see the forcing of the ball due to tacklers (or players in the defensive line) getting in front of the camera.

Under benefit of the doubt, you'd probably award the try - making the assumption that he must've grounded it.

For 2013, you can't - would this encourage the defense to obscure the cameras?

The changes to the way the video ref is called negate the idea of BotD anyway. The referee will make a call, and there will need to be sufficient evidence that the call is wrong for the on field decision to be changed. I really like it, because there won't be anymore of this letting play go on just to avoid making a decision.
 

BunniesMan

Immortal
Messages
33,789
Happy with all of that, most of all the changes to the video ref system. Much much much better.

Good job ARLC.
 
Messages
4,980
Reading the "clarification" of the shoulder charge rule, where a player goes up for a charge down, turns slightly to protect himself, and collects the kicker with his shoulder, he would fall within the definition of a shoulder charge.
-not attempting to tackle, grab or hold of attacking player with arms or hands
- makes direct contact with shoulder.
= min 2 weeks on the sideline for 50% of players attempting charge downs who don't get hands on the guy first, even though there is possibly minimal contact.
Stupid rule, stupid clarification, plenty of scope for whinging about interpretation.

Just waiting for the first player to miss a big game (origin/final) because of a "deemed" shoulder charge that doesn't hit the head and hurts nobody. There'll be outrage.
 

Stagger Lee

Bench
Messages
4,931
SOO changes - approve (about bloody time)
Video ref changes - excellent, well thought out.
Shoulder charge - friggen crap
captains challenge - friggen crap
 

I Bleed Maroon

Referee
Messages
26,588
The Australian Rugby League Commission has scrapped the controversial benefit of the doubt system after a season of clangers and dramatically overhauled the decision-making process for awarding tries. In a dramatic day at Rugby League Central, the commission also announced new State of Origin eligibility rules and a clarification of what will constitute an illegal shoulder charge next season.
However the biggest change is in relation to how tries are awarded, after the 2012 season was marred by bungled calls and confusion over the rules.


Good move I reckon. A shitload better then banning the Shoulder Charge.
 

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