What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

One Ref

Spot On

Coach
Messages
13,902
PRLMO: Rugby League will start next week

Rugby League will start next week.

That's the unwavering commitment from us, the Professional Rugby League Match Officials (PRLMO) to Rugby League fans around the country.

There has been some confusion and a great deal of distortion around the dispute we are having with the League's bosses. This is not about us. It goes to the core of what the great game of Rugby League is all about. It is about the safety of the players, as well as the best interests of the wider Rugby League community. It is also about fair and real consultation.

12 years ago the NRL, in genuine consultation with us and other key stakeholders, decided to add an extra on-field ref. They made that decision the right way, and it remains the right call today. Back then current NRL executive Graham Annesley heralded this historic reform:

"We have talked about it for 10 years, so the time has come" (Daily Tele 2008)

It's simple: today's game is safer with 2 refs.

On numerous occasions, the second referee has picked up potential causes of harm to players which were not detected at the same time by the other 3 match officials, nor the bunker. This includes tackles, holds and throws that can cause significant injury. Identifying and responding to these incidents promptly is crucial in ensuring player safety, and in complying with concussion protocols where a head injury is suspected. But this does not appear to concern the League's bosses.

More importantly for them is, "a more entertaining, free-flowing game". (ARLC Chairman, Peter V'landys 13 May). Yet they cannot explain how taking one referee off the field would achieve that. They also sometimes argue that it's a cost saving measure. Media reports claim the NRL will receive $2 billion from their new broadcast deal. The cost saving of going to one ref is simply peanuts. However, in the spirit of cooperation, the referees were willing to meet and exceed any savings by cutting their wages further. This is on top of the pay cut they have already taken. From the moment the game first shutdown due to the pandemic, the referees have been approaching the League wanting to play their part and share the sacrifices to ensure the Game's viability moving forward.

The League bosses were simply arrogant with this one ref decision. They were like a ‘bull in a china shop'. They ignored the unanimous view of a Project Apollo discussion panel held on 11 May 2020. Representatives there included players, coaches and clubs, all of whom agreed that the two-referee model was superior. They were just ignored.

We are committed to our great game, and to keeping it both exciting and safe. If we lose the next hearing in the Fair Work Commission, we will be on the field with one referee on May 28. But if we are successful, we expect that the NRL will respect that decision and have two referees on the field in Round 3 and beyond.

From PRLMO.com.au

https://leagueunlimited.com/news/34559-prlmo-rugby-league-will-start-next-week/

'Safer with two refs'

FFS.

Alex McKinnon would be absolutely f**king filthy at this piece of crap statement.

Get the f**k on with it now, grow a set of balls and take some control - ON THE FIELD for a change.
 

Spot On

Coach
Messages
13,902
Any saving is good though. I'm so happy with what PV has done. He's been so much better than Greenburg

It is an incredible contrast isn't it.

From a useless politician who would have needed to hire another 200 staff to help get rugby league up and running again to an absolute LEADER who has carried the game on his own shoulders to get it done in no time.

What a f**king legend.
 

lockyno1

Post Whore
Messages
52,650
'Safer with two refs'

FFS.

Alex McKinnon would be absolutely f**king filthy at this piece of crap statement.

Get the f**k on with it now, grow a set of balls and take some control - ON THE FIELD for a change.

This.

Make a decision for once too. Refs have been letting players and teams get away with too much for way too long.

I'm happy to see how the one ref goes.
 

lockyno1

Post Whore
Messages
52,650
It is an incredible contrast isn't it.

From a useless politician who would have needed to hire another 200 staff to help get rugby league up and running again to an absolute LEADER who has carried the game on his own shoulders to get it done in no time.

What a f**king legend.

Really hope the NRL just give PV what he needs to keep him. He's exactly what the game needs. He's got the gae on our screens TWO WEEKS earlier than the AFL. Massive achievement.
 

beave

Coach
Messages
15,562
'Safer with two refs'

FFS.

Alex McKinnon would be absolutely f**king filthy at this piece of crap statement.

Get the f**k on with it now, grow a set of balls and take some control - ON THE FIELD for a change.

Yeah well they did that 2 years ago mate and the media and average fans started crying like bitches at the 20+ penalty count per games and TG had to bow to the bulk pressure and tell the refs to ‘ease up’.

The refs can’t win. They’re told to start cracking down on the bullshit players are doing on the field, they do it.........they get f**king crucified for their troubles.

This whole situation is a mess. The NRL have handled this poorly, if they wanted to do this ref change so bad then wait til the end of the season for f**ks sake. The new ruck rule would be far better implemented with a 2nd ref being able to get a better view of what’s going on in the mess on the ground.
 

Spot On

Coach
Messages
13,902
You can blame Todd for failing to follow through with that. Just another example of his poor LEADERSHIP. WEAK.

The only thing that is a mess is the yrs of previous piss poor leadership at the NRL turning the game into a wrestle fest and killing the product slowly. Interchanges have also added to the bs. Get rid of them ASAP.

The refs are there to do a job. Take f**king control. Penalise the f**k out of teams slowing the ruck if you have to. Send players off - again and again if they do not adhere.

They are there to ref. Paid to do it. Blow the whistle and send players off.

Those who don't like it, tune out.

I'll dig up that old thread re crackdown on the wrestle and have a dig through to see which LU members whinged and bitched about it.

Where you a supporter at the time?
 

T-Boon

Coach
Messages
15,320
Before this I didn't know the refs had a union or that they had a website. I think this has been well played by them. They should see about getting their own show on Foxleague or something where they could breakdown their correct decisions that commentators like Gould, Anasta etc have called wrong decisions.
 

LineBall

Juniors
Messages
1,719
Before this I didn't know the refs had a union or that they had a website. I think this has been well played by them. They should see about getting their own show on Foxleague or something where they could breakdown their correct decisions that commentators like Gould, Anasta etc have called wrong decisions.

It’s already happening. See a screenshot from their new show.
upload_2020-5-23_8-57-56.jpeg
 

Vee

First Grade
Messages
5,189
How isn't that a positive? The game needs to not overspend for starters.

One ref may even be better how about you give it a go before going off.
Because we gave it a go for over 100 years until it got so bad we all agreed it was no longer acceptable?
 

lockyno1

Post Whore
Messages
52,650
Because we gave it a go for over 100 years until it got so bad we all agreed it was no longer acceptable?

It was fine back then I wasn’t one wanting a second ref. One ref has different interpretations to another ref becomes a dogs breakfast
 

T-Boon

Coach
Messages
15,320
People need to agree that the refereeing is excellent. It is a lot better now than it was in the 80s and it was pretty good then.

There was never a decline in refereeing quality, what there was was closer scrutiny of everything by TV cameras and terrible standards in commentary. Essentially there are too many commentators at each game and their egos each with nothing very insightful to say. Also the game itself is played in a very predictable way now so there just isn't much to commentate on.

I'd love to see the referees have a forum to attack the commentators woeful faulty performances.
 
Last edited:

Saxon

Bench
Messages
2,681
Yeah well they did that 2 years ago mate and the media and average fans started crying like bitches at the 20+ penalty count per games and TG had to bow to the bulk pressure and tell the refs to ‘ease up’.

The refs can’t win. They’re told to start cracking down on the bullshit players are doing on the field, they do it.........they get f**king crucified for their troubles.
Agree wholeheartedly with one minor change.
"...and the media started crying like bitches and convinced average fans that the cure was worse than the disease."

The single biggest problem with Rugby League in Australia is the media.
 

big hit!

Bench
Messages
3,452
Any saving is good though. I'm so happy with what PV has done. He's been so much better than Greenburg

you do realise Vlandys is operating as an executive chairman. there is practically no oversight to what he's doing because he's both CEO and chairman of a board with currently 2 vacancies. all anyone is concerned about right now is getting the game re-started, and ticking off what he does without any due diligence and consultation.
 

T-Boon

Coach
Messages
15,320
Agree wholeheartedly with one minor change.
"...and the media started crying like bitches and convinced average fans that the cure was worse than the disease."

The single biggest problem with Rugby League in Australia is the media.

Exactly and this is why NRL.com needs to get stronger and stronger. They should dwarf the Daily Telegraph etc for rugby league news output.
 

wilco44

Juniors
Messages
121
70% of refs don't deserve their fee. Though the NRL shouldn't be played hardcore and get some retired refs and some promising young refs.
Why? It's will play in the hands with teams like Storm, Bunnies, and a few others. Now with video crap...and the 3 ---well the 2nd Ref now??? lol! Those refs have it easy now...F'n Pussies!
 
Messages
8,480
A possibly overlooked issue with the introduction of one referee is that going into the restart next round... the refs have had little/no experience in managing a game on their own. Maybe some at international level.. but even for those that have, that’s a while ago...

might have been referred to in the thread previously, I’ve not read all posts.

Most rule changes are commenced in pre-season trials, so players and refs can get used to it without the spotlight of competition points at stake. Although sometimes something is altered or “clamped down on” through the season.

But this change alters the whole way a referee has to manage the game, with little/no practice, straight into a season. Furthermore they’ve introduced referee discretion on ruck infringements. Let the we-want-consistency-conga-line led by Mr Rothfield chew on that at will...

I’m not saying the refs aren’t up to it, but it’s a huge ask to change the whole way a game is managed with such short notice.

Us fans will find a way to yell at the referees no matter what, have done since 1908. But in this in unchartered territory - if there ever was a time to give refs a break it’s in the first one or two rounds of the restart.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vee

The Rosco

Bench
Messages
2,883
People need to agree that the refereeing is excellent. It is a lot better now than it was in the 80s and it was pretty good then.

There was never a decline in refereeing quality, what there was was closer scrutiny of everything by TV cameras and terrible standards in commentary. Essentially there are too many commentators at each game and their egos each with nothing very insightful to say. Also the game itself is played in a very predictable way now so there just isn't much to commentate on.

I'd love to see the referees have a forum to attack the commentators woeful faulty performances.
. . . and once they are done with the commentators, they could poke fun at the dumb, wrong, stupid decisions made by the players. All the dropped passes, wrong sidesteps, wayward passes, dummy when he should have passed, pass when he should have dummied, not taking the 2, taking the 2, . . . you know, all the stupid fkkn decisions and mistakes the players make every single game.
FFS, they are professionals !!!!! how fkkn hard is it for them to not make mistakes ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vee
Top