I remember watching footy when they had one ref and he did everything. Things like the bunker, video refs, in goal touchies etc. didn't exist. The man in the middle made every call. Now sometimes he f**ked up, and you were dirty, but lived with it as the rub of the green went your way another time when it probably shouldn't have. We didn't have 97 angles and 876 slow motion replays trying to see if the ref made any errors.
I know we often look back at things with rose coloured glass, but I much prefer that system.
This obsession with getting everything 100% right is just dumb and hasn't worked in any sport.
The nfl refs get it wrong even with instant replay, and I have seen the v.r f**k up in soccer. Now if sports where one teams salary cap would be uivalnt to half the comp in the nrl, why are we so arrogant to think we can do better?
Today, when Gutho used his captains' challenge, the bunker decided to put in a call that had nothing to do with the captains' challenge, this is such a stupid thing. If the ref misses it, then they miss it. We lived with this for decades before and the world didn't stop spinning. That type of roller coaster ride of emotions is what made the game a better product back then.
Now we stop for 2 hours and examine everything like we are in an episode of CSI, and miss that wave of emotion like that came from the roar of the crowd and the rush of excitement and joy when a try was instantly awarded or the disappointment and frustration when a try was denied.
Now we have a Franklins version of that because it takes five minutes to give a try and by then the moment is lost.
Anyway, rant over and well done to the team for another win. It was far from pretty or polished, but the effort is there and, as one of many long-suffering fans on here am so pleased to finally see it.
Long may it continue !