Is this the solution to the abhorent refereeing?

[Grapple]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fePv3Wrc0do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnwMe1rey7s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKWh6IhH9xg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JOmtrvUQsg

I know these clips are to do with AFL and as much of a controversial figure as he is, I 100% agree with Sam Newman on his comments regarding the match officials. It's not just the NRL that has this problem; it's also the AFL. Everything he said about AFL umpires in those videos is exactly applicable to the dilemma we are having with NRL referees and one of the pivotal points he mentioned as a STARTING POINT to the solution is to take the microphone off the referee. The microphone, which I believe was a Super League invention in 1997 (along with a lot of other unwanted inventions, such as the gradual movement towards playing most games at night time), is one of the things that is a blight on the game. And over time, no, the reason it was introduced wasn't so that we, the fans, could understand the rulings and interpretations of the ref.

I'm bloody sick and tired of hearing the quintessential Tony Archer "HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELD! SURRENDEEEEEEEEEER! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD! GO!" ad nauseum throughout a game and this is one of the grating aspects of our game that never existed pre-1998. If a player is offside, he shouldn't have to be told "John, get back! You're offside" 50 times. If you play the game, you should know the rules, simple as that. And if John is offside, penalise the bastard rather than saying something over and over again which will make John think that he can repeatedly get away with being offside as he knows he wasn't penalised in the previous instances.

Like what Sammy said, the match officials have almost become just as important and receive just as much attention as the players when the initial purpose of a referee in the first place was always just to referee the game according to the rules rather than trying to be the "Hey! Look at me!" 27th player on the field, which sadly is what referees like Brett Suttor have evolved into. Even as a Knights supporter, I have to say that incidents such as what happened in the Rd 23 Knights/Bulldogs game with Brett Suttor's comments during the game was absolutely disgraceful and another thing which validates my previous sentence. The refs have become like the Moscow Circus - one big, laughable act.

Take the microphone off them and it will greatly reduce their need to be the "centre of attention" and noticable: an attitude which was fostered by Bill Harrigan since the mics were introduced, and now other refs have started to follow his lead

P.S. Also the point about Jeff Geishen (who I think is the boss of the AFL umpires) is just like what Bill Harrigan has been doing, going on radio/newspaper/tv to explain the rules. Disgraceful

"Play it with your foot, Petero!"

I'll miss that one.

 

[Perth Red]

IMO, this is what needs to happen:

1. Go through the rule book and update/simplify things as much as possible.

2. The refs can only adress players by their number and the captain as "captain".

3. The only player that can talk to the ref is the captain and must address him as sir, and can only do so at a natural break in play, such as when a try is scored or a ball goes into touch, NOT when a penalty has been awarded (the ref signals what it is for and isn't going to change his mind).

4. The refs are not to "coach" the players. No warnings about being offside, not square etc, etc. No more dominant or surrender calls. The ref is to call held (if necessary) and the tackle number only. Sure there will be more penalties initially, but they will soon learn.

5. Get rid of the video ref.

6. Touch judges are to stay in line with the ball to help determine forward passes. They are not to come onto the field of play unless they are reporting something, or time has been called off.

Gets my vote! Other thing I would add is tv not to replay and analyse every decision.

 

[Stinkler]

Previously, you only needed 7 or 8 referees per week.
There used to be 9 or 10 refs that were "up to standard".
2 of them either ran a line in 1st Grade, or were "dropped" to Reserve Grade.

Today, you need 16 referees per week.
There are 10 or so that are "up to standard".
6 referees are in 1st Grade, when they are not "up to standard".

Please return to 1 on field referee. That gives you 2 guys who can be "dropped" to Toyota Cup each week. I'd like to see it on a rotational system. Even Tony Archer and Shayne Hayne could do with a week out of the spotlight every now and then.


and the Video Ref, well, a toss of a coin could do better on some days!