Rule changes and how the rules are interpreated are bringing into disrepute

[Ted bartolo]

All can say is rugby league is not consistent in how rules are interpreated and the new rules are making it harder for people to believe the game is fair.

 

[Kolum Kid]

All can say is rugby league is not consistent in how rules are interpreated and the new rules are making it harder for people to believe the game is fair.

Spot on Ted. If you hit the head it does not matter if it is accidental,the player fell into it, it was a love tap, you still hit the head. The same with the shoulder charge , there should be no excuse, bracing for impact, no intent, no force, whatever.The biggest problem is X players who commentate the games making excuses for their favourite players. I'm even convinced the bunker listens to the tv because sometimes their explanations are exactly something out of the commentators mouth word for word. Just my view.

 

[Slippery Morris]

I watched the English Premier League and the NRL could learn a thing of 2 from them. Last year the Video ref ruled out so many goals and made some really bad calls based on guys armpits being offside etc. They caused so much controversy and anger with the fans it was not funny. This year they are not using the video refs at all until it is necessary and have therefore removed the power for them to pick and choose. All the games today ran smoothly. If they see something obvious then they will call it and by the 100% clear as mud no looking at inches or body parts, anything else it is the refs call on the field.

 

[TruSaint]

The data that shows six-agains being used to even up NRL games​

Fans have long suspected referee’s decisions favour losing teams, while coaches are convinced of it.
Now, it’s official: the NRL’s own data demonstrates that in 2021 no club has won a six-again count when leading by 19 points or more in a match.




Injured Paramatta hooker Reed Mahoney has emphatically shut down rumours of a rift between Eels players
And only one of the NRL’s 16 clubs has lost a six-again count when behind on the scoreboard by 19 or more points.
Blowouts have been a scourge in 2021, with the data suggesting refereeing decisions are countering lopsided scorelines.

In the pre-Peter V’landys era, when penalties and sin-bins/send-offs were the only means a referee had to keep a team in a match, he or she was constrained by the TV cameras scrutinising a decision.
But six-again calls are made on the run, with no time for analysis.

Referee Matt Cecchin signals six-again during a Storm-Warriors clash earlier this season.CREDIT:GREGG PORTEOUS/NRL PHOTOS

A referee can award a repeat set for a ruck infringement or for encroaching inside the 10-metre defensive corridor and the game moves on so swiftly, sometimes the attacking team is unaware it has been gifted six more tackles.

The Storm lead the NRL ladder but have the worst differential in terms of six-again calls won and lost, with minus 24. But of the 96 conceded, 23 of these are when ahead by 19 or more points.

Perhaps the referee’s historical role of choreographer is a reflection of their subconscious ego – a desire to keep the game close because an even contest reflects favourably on them.
More likely, maybe it’s a reflection of a love for the game. After all, blowouts embarrass the code. To be fair, the great majority of six again calls are deserved. The Bulldogs are last on the NRL ladder and top of the sinners’ list with 109 repeat sets conceded. Of these, 35 are when the score in the match is tied, against 17 received when the score is tied.

The Bulldogs’ statistics suggest ill discipline is the issue for Trent Barrett’s side.CREDIT:GETTY
So, when the match is in the balance, the Bulldogs concede twice as many repeat sets as they receive, suggesting ill-discipline is their problem.
Referees also deserve some sympathy because some clubs are gaming the rules, deliberately conceding six-agains early in the tackle count when the opposition players are camped in their own half.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook said of the Rabbitohs after their 36-6 loss in round 22: “They were flying off their line. They didn’t care if it was six-again or not. Or how slow they made it. They knew we were buried deep down our end and couldn’t get out.”
Not surprisingly, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has a different view of lopsided scorelines, saying, “Coaches aren’t getting the best out of their teams.”
Hmmm. The Skinny Coach is ahead in the six-again department, with a differential of plus six. When the scores in a match are tied, Souths have won the count 20 times and lost it only nine times, indicating his lads know when to behave themselves.
The Panthers are second on the NRL ladder but lead the competition in terms of the six-again differential, having received a massive 25 more repeat sets than they have conceded.
When a match is tied, their figures are even more impressive than the Rabbitohs, receiving 16 more than they concede.

Wests Tigers is the only club not to attract the sympathy of the referee when being blown away by the opposition, conceding two more repeat sets than they receive. They are like the kid who, having been caned by the headmaster, said it didn’t hurt. So the headmaster says, “I’ll give you six again.”

If you’re not convinced referees have a heart, consider the itinerant Warriors, on the road now for almost two seasons.
When being flogged by 19 or more points, referees have awarded them 18 repeat sets, while punishing them only four times, suggesting even the match officials, like all of us, don’t want them to pack up and go home to New Zealand.
With the play-offs only two weeks away, and the top teams competing, blowouts should diminish but a six-again call will likely decide a semi-final.

Remarkably, the Sydney media erupted in 1978 when referee Greg Hartley awarded Manly a try on the seventh tackle, yet teams now routinely receive a further six tackles without a whimper.

The data that shows six-agains being used to even up NRL games

It’s official: the NRL’s own figures demonstrate that no club this season has won a six-again count when leading by 19 points or more in a match.

www.smh.com.au

 

[BLM01]

Injured Paramatta hooker Reed Mahoney has emphatically shut down rumours of a rift between Eels players​

And only one of the NRL’s 16 clubs has lost a six-again count when behind on the scoreboard by 19 or more points.
Blowouts have been a scourge in 2021, with the data suggesting refereeing decisions are countering lopsided scorelines.

In the pre-Peter V’landys era, when penalties and sin-bins/send-offs were the only means a referee had to keep a team in a match, he or she was constrained by the TV cameras scrutinising a decision.
But six-again calls are made on the run, with no time for analysis.

Referee Matt Cecchin signals six-again during a Storm-Warriors clash earlier this season.CREDIT:GREGG PORTEOUS/NRL PHOTOS

A referee can award a repeat set for a ruck infringement or for encroaching inside the 10-metre defensive corridor and the game moves on so swiftly, sometimes the attacking team is unaware it has been gifted six more tackles.

The Storm lead the NRL ladder but have the worst differential in terms of six-again calls won and lost, with minus 24. But of the 96 conceded, 23 of these are when ahead by 19 or more points.

Perhaps the referee’s historical role of choreographer is a reflection of their subconscious ego – a desire to keep the game close because an even contest reflects favourably on them.
More likely, maybe it’s a reflection of a love for the game. After all, blowouts embarrass the code. To be fair, the great majority of six again calls are deserved. The Bulldogs are last on the NRL ladder and top of the sinners’ list with 109 repeat sets conceded. Of these, 35 are when the score in the match is tied, against 17 received when the score is tied.

The Bulldogs’ statistics suggest ill discipline is the issue for Trent Barrett’s side.CREDIT:GETTY
So, when the match is in the balance, the Bulldogs concede twice as many repeat sets as they receive, suggesting ill-discipline is their problem.
Referees also deserve some sympathy because some clubs are gaming the rules, deliberately conceding six-agains early in the tackle count when the opposition players are camped in their own half.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook said of the Rabbitohs after their 36-6 loss in round 22: “They were flying off their line. They didn’t care if it was six-again or not. Or how slow they made it. They knew we were buried deep down our end and couldn’t get out.”
Not surprisingly, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett has a different view of lopsided scorelines, saying, “Coaches aren’t getting the best out of their teams.”
Hmmm. The Skinny Coach is ahead in the six-again department, with a differential of plus six. When the scores in a match are tied, Souths have won the count 20 times and lost it only nine times, indicating his lads know when to behave themselves.
The Panthers are second on the NRL ladder but lead the competition in terms of the six-again differential, having received a massive 25 more repeat sets than they have conceded.
When a match is tied, their figures are even more impressive than the Rabbitohs, receiving 16 more than they concede.

Wests Tigers is the only club not to attract the sympathy of the referee when being blown away by the opposition, conceding two more repeat sets than they receive. They are like the kid who, having been caned by the headmaster, said it didn’t hurt. So the headmaster says, “I’ll give you six again.”

If you’re not convinced referees have a heart, consider the itinerant Warriors, on the road now for almost two seasons.
When being flogged by 19 or more points, referees have awarded them 18 repeat sets, while punishing them only four times, suggesting even the match officials, like all of us, don’t want them to pack up and go home to New Zealand.
With the play-offs only two weeks away, and the top teams competing, blowouts should diminish but a six-again call will likely decide a semi-final.

Remarkably, the Sydney media erupted in 1978 when referee Greg Hartley awarded Manly a try on the seventh tackle, yet teams now routinely receive a further six tackles without a whimper.

The data that shows six-agains being used to even up NRL games

It’s official: the NRL’s own figures demonstrate that no club this season has won a six-again count when leading by 19 points or more in a match.

www.smh.com.au

LOL.. NRL, surprised na
Roy Masters . One if the credible journos who knows his stuff
The whole officiating empire needs to be blown up, stripped back and rebuilt applying basics and commonsense
Any reasons why the refs had to become full time professional?

 

[Walpole]

The biggest problem is that referees try to "manage" the game, rather than simply enforce the rules. When a ref refers to a player making his debut by name it shows that's he cares who the player is rather than what he's doing on the field. The only two players who the ref should speak to by name are the two captains, everyone else is Blue 6, Red 8 etc. And none of this calling players out of a play because they're offside, if they're offside just penalise them. As soon as refs go back to refereeing we'll be a lot better off.

 

[Saint Angelo]

The biggest problem is that referees try to "manage" the game, rather than simply enforce the rules. When a ref refers to a player making his debut by name it shows that's he cares who the player is rather than what he's doing on the field. The only two players who the ref should speak to by name are the two captains, everyone else is Blue 6, Red 8 etc. And none of this calling players out of a play because they're offside, if they're offside just penalise them. As soon as refs go back to refereeing we'll be a lot better off.

Spot on Walpole !!!
As soon as the referees start doing their JOB and reffing games instead of telling players what to do the better.

 

[Trifili13]

Agree with all the above comments. I hate hearing refs calling players to stay out of the play, or that the ball is out of the scrum. I think I even heard a ref maybe last weekend or the previous one that the kick was outside the 40m, therefore the fullback had no need to stop it going into touch. Just ref the game and not manage it.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Any rule that is as open to interpretation as the 6 again has to go.

 

[BLM01]

Any rule that is as open to interpretation as the 6 again has to go.

Are not all rules open to interpretation? by officials
It’s the interpretations that are not explained and are not subject to scrutiny and understanding is the problem

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Are not all rules open to interpretation? by officials
It’s the interpretations that are not explained and are not subject to scrutiny and understanding is the problem

No

 

[True_Believer]

The biggest problem is that referees try to "manage" the game, rather than simply enforce the rules. When a ref refers to a player making his debut by name it shows that's he cares who the player is rather than what he's doing on the field. The only two players who the ref should speak to by name are the two captains, everyone else is Blue 6, Red 8 etc. And none of this calling players out of a play because they're offside, if they're offside just penalise them. As soon as refs go back to refereeing we'll be a lot better off.

Problem is, once they start to actually ref the game and enforce the rules, the commentators stat complaining that the ref is making too much of an appearance. Remember a couple of seasons ago when they started to actually ref to the rules for all teams and we were doing OK. By the middle of the year the commentators had had enough and just whinged and whinged and suddenly the reffing went back to what it was - so the teams that can't play to the rules are suddenly winning games again. It's bullshit. The whole game has pretty much become a pile of crap dictated to by the media.

 

[BLM01]

No

Yes

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Yes

I said rules that are AS open to interpretation as 6 again not simply open to interpretation. Huge difference when you read it.

 

[Ghostrider22]

The biggest problem is that referees try to "manage" the game, rather than simply enforce the rules. When a ref refers to a player making his debut by name it shows that's he cares who the player is rather than what he's doing on the field. The only two players who the ref should speak to by name are the two captains, everyone else is Blue 6, Red 8 etc. And none of this calling players out of a play because they're offside, if they're offside just penalise them. As soon as refs go back to refereeing we'll be a lot better off.

Too many rules to start with and to much familiarity back in the day Greg Hartley, Jack Danzey to name a few refs would call numbers that’s it. Then you have the interpretation by the Ref which is a massive problem which has been for years. I still have my yellow and green rule book when I started the amount of the amendments that occurred were glued into the rule book over the years.
Now you have the bunker interfering with the game as well with their interpretation, the whole game stinks. Then you have the Sutton brothers that are connected to Melbourne and also the way 1 brother refs games Queensland and Melbourne and idiots at the NRL just figured out that may be an influence and favouritism.
It just goes to show how corrupt the NRL is, I can go back when a Justice headed the Judiciary while being a board member of the Roosters. If you have no club links fine be part of the organisation but when directly connected it shows contradiction and favouritism.

 

[blacksafake]

The biggest problem is that referees try to "manage" the game, rather than simply enforce the rules. When a ref refers to a player making his debut by name it shows that's he cares who the player is rather than what he's doing on the field. The only two players who the ref should speak to by name are the two captains, everyone else is Blue 6, Red 8 etc. And none of this calling players out of a play because they're offside, if they're offside just penalise them. As soon as refs go back to refereeing we'll be a lot better off.

Great post

Too many rules to start with and to much familiarity back in the day Greg Hartley, Jack Danzey to name a few refs would call numbers that’s it. Then you have the interpretation by the Ref which is a massive problem which has been for years. I still have my yellow and green rule book when I started the amount of the amendments that occurred were glued into the rule book over the years.
Now you have the bunker interfering with the game as well with their interpretation, the whole game stinks. Then you have the Sutton brothers that are connected to Melbourne and also the way 1 brother refs games Queensland and Melbourne and idiots at the NRL just figured out that may be an influence and favouritism.
It just goes to show how corrupt the NRL is, I can go back when a Justice headed the Judiciary while being a board member of the Roosters. If you have no club links fine be part of the organisation but when directly connected it shows contradiction and favouritism.

Speaking of Jack Danzey i remember being captain at the toss & telling him we'll run that way Mate.
The dressing down he gave me for calling him mate & not sir is not for young ears. Lol

 

[Trifili13]

Great post

Speaking of Jack Danzey i remember being captain at the toss & telling him we'll run that way Mate.
The dressing down he gave me for calling him mate & not sir is not for young ears. Lol

I thought you were going to say you tried to pull off a swifty by saying to him "we will kick off running that way".

 

[TruSaint]

The biggest problem is that referees try to "manage" the game, rather than simply enforce the rules. When a ref refers to a player making his debut by name it shows that's he cares who the player is rather than what he's doing on the field. The only two players who the ref should speak to by name are the two captains, everyone else is Blue 6, Red 8 etc. And none of this calling players out of a play because they're offside, if they're offside just penalise them. As soon as refs go back to refereeing we'll be a lot better off.

Yeah, well said.

Maybe too long ago for the young folk, or too recent for those of my era, but remember when we used to buy the " refs ears " gadget for games ?

Hearing the on field ref talking to the players and asking for the penalty count from off field officials was damning.

Why would a ref ask " what's the pen count ? ". They have since stopped asking as too many mic's and cameras now. Still, the penalty count always seems to level out more often than not.

 

[Number of the Beath]

I had to (reluctantly) feel sorry for Souffs tonight, as Atkins and the bunker completely rubbed them out v Penriff. Listening to the common taters on 9, talking Penrith up made me sick into my own scorn. How much skill it must take to narrowly win a game when you're benefiting from an 11-2 penalty count and when your grub 5/8 goes into a tackle on Josh Mansour knees first, opens up his eyebrow and puts him out of the game and gets off scot free.

 

[BLM01]

I had to (reluctantly) feel sorry for Souffs tonight, as Atkins and the bunker completely rubbed them out v Penriff. Listening to the common taters on 9, talking Penrith up made me sick into my own scorn. How much skill it must take to narrowly win a game when you're benefiting from an 11-2 penalty count and when your grub 5/8 goes into a tackle on Josh Mansour knees first, opens up his eyebrow and puts him out of the game and gets off scot free.

I will disclaimer by saying i wanted Souths to win last night but here we go again, finals teams getting reffed differently to the rest and ensuring a spectacle.
That may be a good thing but 6 agains...what 6 agains.
Channel 9 commentary have been whining about 6 agains for some weeks...
Bingo...for the big games no issues with holding on in the ruck, offside, poor play the balls..the list goes on

But now (I think it was Burton that opened him up being 3rd man in with his knee) Luai or Burtons tackle never even got slowed down or replayed enough for comment or scrutiny
It was worthy of a penalty and even MRC should have a cl;oser look at it.
But we know how that will end up..aka Clearys non (it was only bracing yourself) shoulder charge