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Refs are soft: Gomersall
By Wayne Heming
August 3, 2004
FORMER Test and Origin referee Barry Gomersall says rugby league's men in the middle have gone soft.
Gomersall... refs need to 'toughen up'
The outspoken north Queensland whistleblower believes the video referee has far too much influence, making referees afraid to do their jobs properly, and contributing to recent problems.
Gomersall himself often a target of criticism, especially from NSW fans believes the answer lies in handing more control back to the referee.
He also reckons the referees have only themselves to blame for the way they've been pressured by players on the field.
Referees have been under the spotlight for more than a week following several mistakes which upset coaches, players and fans.
The situation reached a new low on Sunday when referee Tony Archer and his touch judges were subjected to abuse and pelted with plastic cups after Souths lost to Newcastle at Aussie Stadium.
Souths fans abuse the referee after the game against Newcastle on the weekend
That caused Souths chief executive Shane Richardson to warn that the game would lose it's referees unless they were shown more respect, on and off the field.
"It never got as bad as having stuff thrown at me, that would be a bit unnerving and there's absolutely no need for it," said Gomersall, who refereed nine Origins and six Tests.
"What we need to do is take a few steps backwards, get rid of those video referees who even with the aid of replays, which tend to distort things, still get things wrong.
"What's happened over recent years is they've taken control of the game off the referee.
"They're too scared to make a call, to send anyone off, to leave a team a man short and possibly cost them a game.
"They're getting soft.
"They're hiding behind the match review committee and the guy upstairs.
"If I was a video referee I'd have a stubbie in one hand and a `ref's call' button in the other.
"Let's gid rid of the video referees having so much say and take the microphones away from the touchies and let the referees make some decisions.
"The referee is not game to make a decision because a player races over and gets in his face."
Gomersall said referees should take stronger action against players attempting to pressure them and talking disrespectfully to them on the field.
"What's has happened to the sin bin?," he said.
"What's happened to referees controlling the game and why are they calling players by their first names?
"How on earth can you respect a referee who's calling you by your first name all the time. Familiarity breeds contempt."
Refs are soft: Gomersall
By Wayne Heming
August 3, 2004
FORMER Test and Origin referee Barry Gomersall says rugby league's men in the middle have gone soft.
Gomersall... refs need to 'toughen up'
The outspoken north Queensland whistleblower believes the video referee has far too much influence, making referees afraid to do their jobs properly, and contributing to recent problems.
Gomersall himself often a target of criticism, especially from NSW fans believes the answer lies in handing more control back to the referee.
He also reckons the referees have only themselves to blame for the way they've been pressured by players on the field.
Referees have been under the spotlight for more than a week following several mistakes which upset coaches, players and fans.
The situation reached a new low on Sunday when referee Tony Archer and his touch judges were subjected to abuse and pelted with plastic cups after Souths lost to Newcastle at Aussie Stadium.
Souths fans abuse the referee after the game against Newcastle on the weekend
That caused Souths chief executive Shane Richardson to warn that the game would lose it's referees unless they were shown more respect, on and off the field.
"It never got as bad as having stuff thrown at me, that would be a bit unnerving and there's absolutely no need for it," said Gomersall, who refereed nine Origins and six Tests.
"What we need to do is take a few steps backwards, get rid of those video referees who even with the aid of replays, which tend to distort things, still get things wrong.
"What's happened over recent years is they've taken control of the game off the referee.
"They're too scared to make a call, to send anyone off, to leave a team a man short and possibly cost them a game.
"They're getting soft.
"They're hiding behind the match review committee and the guy upstairs.
"If I was a video referee I'd have a stubbie in one hand and a `ref's call' button in the other.
"Let's gid rid of the video referees having so much say and take the microphones away from the touchies and let the referees make some decisions.
"The referee is not game to make a decision because a player races over and gets in his face."
Gomersall said referees should take stronger action against players attempting to pressure them and talking disrespectfully to them on the field.
"What's has happened to the sin bin?," he said.
"What's happened to referees controlling the game and why are they calling players by their first names?
"How on earth can you respect a referee who's calling you by your first name all the time. Familiarity breeds contempt."
