Gerard Sutton demoted to Titans v Warriors clash

[Meth]

like it or not this is the lowest profile game, it will be the least watched game this round. So it is a demotion for someone apparently considered this years no.1 referee. Not sure why Warriors fans are already whinging as if hes cost them the game before it's even started. Hes no more an advantage or disadvantage to the warriors than any other ref.

I haven't really seen a lot of Warriors fans whinging about Sutton's appointment or projecting dread over how he will officiate the game. Warriors fans seem to be more rightly pissed at the slight of their match being considered a demotion and this being stated publicly. Not sure what's hard to understand about that.

 

[carcharias]

I'm not really debating what he did wrong, or not. There's been some controversy and some consequence and here we are. This thread isn't about the incident in question. It's examining the apparent balls up of 'demoting' a referee punitively to a first grade game and acknowledging it as such publicly. And my comment was just stating my hope that Sutton is virtually anonymous this weekend and both us and the Titans fans can just watch our teams play footy.

I get that but geeze the media has really gone town on this ref.

You don’t need to even worry about him doing a warriors game.
He actually did the right thing IMO even though his actual call went against my team.

He did nothing wrong.
The TJ f**ked up not him.

 

[Meth]

Also, if you are demoting a ref this round-

How about the Cowboys v Knights? 15th v 11th, 1st game on a Friday?
How about the Bulldogs v Tigers- 2 teams outside the 8?

Or how about to the f**king ISP?

 

[Meth]

I get that but geeze the media has really gone town on this ref.

You don’t need to even worry about him doing a warriors game.
He actually did the right thing IMO even though his actual call went against my team.

He did nothing wrong.
The TJ f**ked up not him.

Oh, I'm not particularly worried about Sutton's performance. Virtual anonymity is basically my hope for any ref

 

[Meth]

Actually, within that original comment was an ounce of concern over how a ref might respond to all that scrutiny. e.g you might expect someone like Harrigan to want to come out and establish himself as prominently in control. So, my hope is that his head is just to get through the game without incident- but that doesn't really have much to do with him being whatever Suttor he is (I get them mixed up)

 

[skeepe]

I get that but geeze the media has really gone town on this ref.

You don’t need to even worry about him doing a warriors game.
He actually did the right thing IMO even though his actual call went against my team.

He did nothing wrong.
The TJ f**ked up not him.

Apart from the fact that he didn’t follow the laws of the game.

 

[carcharias]

Oh, I'm not particularly worried about Sutton's performance. Virtual anonymity is basically my hope for any ref

I agree
I wish

Watch tonight
I bet my balls the Sharks will be the ones to pay for last week.
We will get hammered by the ref.
First set of 6 - penalty to Broncos
That’ll carry on all game.

 

[carcharias]

Apart from the fact that he didn’t follow the laws of the game.

I could be wrong but I cannot find one rule where it states the ref must stop the game when the tj holds his flag up.

Pls supply the link

 

[skeepe]

I could be wrong but I cannot find one rule where it states the ref must stop the game when the tj holds his flag up.

Pls supply the link

The NRL saying the game should have been stopped at that point not good enough for you?

 

[carcharias]

The NRL saying the game should have been stopped at that point not good enough for you?

Got that link?

 

[Dav0c]

like it or not this is the lowest profile game, it will be the least watched game this round. So it is a demotion for someone apparently considered this years no.1 referee. Not sure why Warriors fans are already whinging as if hes cost them the game before it's even started. Hes no more an advantage or disadvantage to the warriors than any other ref.

Should refs be appointed based on how many viewers there are? Pretty sure they are not the reason people are tuning in.

 

[Juju]

like it or not this is the lowest profile game, it will be the least watched game this round. So it is a demotion for someone apparently considered this years no.1 referee. Not sure why Warriors fans are already whinging as if hes cost them the game before it's even started. Hes no more an advantage or disadvantage to the warriors than any other ref.

Yet this game will be the highest rated game in New Zealand & probably have one of the top attendances for this round.
You should try and be a little less insular.

 

[insert.pause]

Should refs be appointed based on how many viewers there are? Pretty sure they are not the reason people are tuning in.

Whether they should or not is irrelevant, its how it works, that's why there was soo much scrutiny over the origin appointments. Before last Friday Sutton was considered the number 1 referee, so in reality you are getting the no1 referee for your game. I just don't see the issue. It is more of a slight on the Titans than the Warriors imo.

 

[typicalfan]

I could be wrong but I cannot find one rule where it states the ref must stop the game when the tj holds his flag up.

Pls supply the link

So you are saying you may be wrong but the referees boss might not know the rules since you can't find it and he admitted the play should have stopped.

That would be even more alarming.

 

[insert.pause]

Yet this game will be the highest rated game in New Zealand & probably have one of the top attendances for this round.
You should try and be a little less insular.

I am not being insular, I am being pragmatic. It is what it is. I also think it has far more to do with the Titans than the Warriors, who many probably expect to win easily.

 

[carcharias]

So you are saying you may be wrong but the referees boss might not know the rules since you can't find it and he admitted the play should have stopped.

That would be even more alarming.

I am saying that going by the nrl’s own rule book there is no mention of it.
None
Nada
I may have missed it though
If I have please show me where

 

[Captain Apollo]

Part of the problem here is that it involves Gerard Sutton and the fact that his brother Bernard is the NRL Referees Coach. People have been saying Bernard is "tougher" on Gerard than on anyone else, well some people will believe it but many won't as on the surface they'll suspect that Gerard will get "protected" by his brother. That perception is what is referred to in many places as an "apparent conflict of interest" as, to the average person in the street, they will not see how a brother could be impartial when judging their brother.

Fact is in many professions, that kind of perceived conflict would not be allowed to occur (e.g. public service, judiciary) as it dents confidence in the"impartiality" of the appointments. It amazes me the NRL, and by extension the ARL Commission, have allowed this situation to arise.

 

[Danish]

I am saying that going by the nrl’s own rule book there is no mention of it.
None
Nada
I may have missed it though
If I have please show me where

Anyone who has done their refereeing ticket knows that a flag raise is treated the same as a whistle blow. Even in error, the game must be stopped.

If anyone in the refereeing ranks makes a signal in error, the play has to stop, and is then restarted with a scrum. The team in possession when play is halted gets the feed.

The relevant sections of the rule book are below:

SECTION 16.
8. When to blow the whistle (notes section)
Whistle blown accidentally
Play must stop even if the whistle is blown accidentally in which case play is re-started with a scrum where the ball was last touched by a player in the field of play before the whistle is blown, and his team shall be given the loose head and put -in.

10. Accepting Touch Judge's Decision
The Referee shall accept the decision of an official Touch Judge relating to touch and touch in-goal play and to kicks at goal.

13. Indicating Touch
A Touch Judge shall indicate when and where the ball goes into touch by raising his flag and standing opposite the point of entry into touch


The touch judge indicated incorrectly, to be sure, but play had to be stopped. End of story

 

[carcharias]

Anyone who has done their refereeing ticket knows that a flag raise is treated the same as a whistle blow. Even in error, the game must be stopped.

If anyone in the refereeing ranks makes a signal in error, the play has to stop, and is then restarted with a scrum. The team in possession when play is halted gets the feed.

The relevant sections of the rule book are below:

SECTION 16.
8. When to blow the whistle (notes section)
Whistle blown accidentally
Play must stop even if the whistle is blown accidentally in which case play is re-started with a scrum where the ball was last touched by a player in the field of play before the whistle is blown, and his team shall be given the loose head and put -in.

10. Accepting Touch Judge's Decision
The Referee shall accept the decision of an official Touch Judge relating to touch and touch in-goal play and to kicks at goal.

13. Indicating Touch
A Touch Judge shall indicate when and where the ball goes into touch by raising his flag and standing opposite the point of entry into touch


The touch judge indicated incorrectly, to be sure, but play had to be stopped. End of story

Ok
I find that confusing
That doesn’t mention a flag up for knock on.
It mentions “relating to touch”
I was lead to believe “touch” is the sideline and dead ball line.... neither were involved in this.

Or as I asked before ...are they trying to say he ran out?

I reckon they are full of it.
They should’ve just said
Sorry that hasn’t happened before that we know of.

Should’ve been a scrum with sharks feed
Or the try
End of.

 

[Danish]

Ok
I find that confusing
That doesn’t mention a flag up for knock on.
It mentions “relating to touch”
I was lead to believe “touch” is the sideline and dead ball line.... neither were involved in this.

Or as I asked before ...are they trying to say he ran out?

I reckon they are full of it.
They should’ve just said
Sorry that hasn’t happened before that we know of.

Should’ve been a scrum with sharks feed
Or the try
End of.

I don't know what "they" are saying, but what I am saying is that yes, the ref incorrectly raised his flag indicating a player had gone into touch. I am of the opinion that he did this as a reaction to thinking he saw a knock on.

This was clearly an incorrect decision, as firstly its debatable that it was a knock on, but mostly raising your flag is only to be used to indicate the ball or a players going into touch.

Despite it being clearly incorrect, the signal was still made. With the signal made, the ref must stop play as per Section 16.10

Once play is stopped, the ref would consult with the touch judge who would explain he raised his flag in error, and the ref would then rule play to restart with a scrum to the sharks.

The funny thing is that even if all of the above had gone down like it should, the likelihood is the blow up today would still be happening by much of the media since it was still a silly error by the touchy judge. The NRL would at least have been justified in the punishment they've winded up dishing out though.