The NRL is close approving a video referee bunker after trialling the system for 12 months
by: DAVID RICCIO
June 03, 2015 12:00AM
THE NRL is just two months away from rubberstamping the most significant changes to the game since the introduction of the video referee 20 years ago.
On the verge of finalising a report into a 12-match trial of the same video referee bunker technology used in the NBA, the NRL believes fans will benefit from an Australian- first multimillion-dollar, nine-camera- angle central command centre.
Quicker and more accurate decisions, live in-game rulings via the introduction of a captains challenge or coachs call, match review committee charges laid after every match and an increase in revenue from an enhanced broadcast deal are all feasible under the bunker system.
NRL head of football Todd Greenberg, alongside consultant and digital expert Stuart Taggart, is in charge of overseeing the bunker system trial which he hopes to present to the ARL Commission in August.
Greenberg described the bunker technology as one of the greatest innovations the game has seen.
We think this is a game changer for rugby league and sport potentially in this country, he said. It will give our referees and match officials all the tools and the most up-to-date technology so they can form the best decisions possible in an environment which is conducive to decision-making.
THE BUNKER
The Daily Telegraph was invited inside the NRL bunker for Monday nights Sydney Roosters-Melbourne match at Allianz Stadium.
Situated 20km west in a small room with a single door and no windows on the lower level of ANZ Stadium, video referee Luke Patten, assistant Bernard Sutton and acting supervisor, NRL referees boss Tony Archer, put the bunker to the test.
Patten analysed the live feed on two plasma screens while Sutton had control of two TVs, including a touch screen offering nine different camera angles, hyper-speed replays and extreme zoom capabilities.
Sutton also had a microphone which, if the bunker was in operation, would allow him to transmit his decision of any call down the line to Allianz Stadium.
This is Sydney confirming a try, Sutton said, breaking the silence after Roosters winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall crossed in the first half.
It was a long way from Brookvale Oval, where fans are renowned for banging on the video referees window as he attempts to make a call.
The bunker system differs to the current video referee model, which was first introduced in the Super League era of 1996.
Under the current model, the host broadcaster either Nine or Fox Sports dictates when and which replays NRL video referees have access to. Typically, the video referee has one TV to look at as he waits for the replays to appear.
Its one of the biggest reasons why fans are forced to wait, sometimes for as long two minutes, for the video referee to receive the desired replay.
Here, the NRL takes control of the technology with unlimited access to different camera angles.
Whats surprising is it has taken the NRL this long to take control of something so significant.
How we use it in games with things like captains challenge and things like coachs call become real and viable opportunities with this technology, Greenberg said.
MORE ACTION
In the 33rd minute of the Roosters-Storm clash, Melbourne purposely dawdled towards their goalposts in the hope that TV replays would confirm that Melbourne winger Mahe Fonua had caught the football on the full inside his own in-goal, resulting in a 20m restart.
It took close to a minute for TV replays to confirm a line dropout, as fans waited. Back in the bunker, with his super-speed replay and camera angles, Sutton confirmed it in 15 seconds.
THE VIDEO REVOLUTION
In-the-runreviews & instant rulings
Captainschallenge
Nine camera angles
Post-matchreview charge sheet
Lesstime spent on replays
Extra TVrevenue
MONEYMATTERS
Every 30seconds saved equals potential revenue for TV ads
State ofOrigin: $90,000 for a 30-second ad
Fridaynight football: $30,000 for a 30-second ad
Sundayfootball: $8000 for a 30-second ad
Included in Greenbergs pitch to the commission will be the eight minutes and 35 seconds saved by the bunker trial from 11 referrals.
Weve found with the bunker system were down about half the average time of a referral, Greenberg said. The average referral is about 90 seconds and were down to about 40.
INCREASED REVENUE
The NRL has worked with broadcast partners Fox Sports, Channel 9 and Sky Sports to finetune the bunker system.
Fewer delays and dead time between video referee decisions pave the way for the possibility of extra commercial breaks, which will be undoubtedly raised when the next round of TV broadcast negotiations begin.
A 30-second commercial on Friday night is worth around $20,000. Its around $8000 on a Sunday.
Across 26 weeks not including State of Origin the games financial return courtesy of the bunker could result in millions of extra revenue.
Im sure that will be discussed, Greenberg said. We want the game to be continuous and we want the fans to watch something that they are genuinely engaged in. The long stoppages currently under the video referee model are the opposite of that.
This is about fans. Its about giving them a product they want to watch and to do that we want the ball in play, we want the game being played continuously. The opportunities are endless.
CHARGE SHEET
In the 35th minute of Monday night football, Archer spotted what he believed was a possible crusher tackle by Roosters forward Kane Evans.
CASE STUDY 1: R12 WARRIORS V KNIGHTS
Six video referrals
Video referee averaged 58.5 seconds per decision
Bunker averaged 20.3 seconds per decision
Average time saved per decision: 38.2 seconds
Estimated time saving of 3 minutes 49 seconds during the match
CASE STUDY 2: R11 KNIGHTS V BRONCOS
Two video referrals
Video referee averaged 80.5 seconds per decision
Bunker averaged 47.5 seconds per decision
Estimated average time saved per decision: 33 seconds
Estimated time saving of 1 minute 6 seconds during the match
Just go back there Bernie and see if he (Storm player) gets his head out, Archer said.
Patten monitored the game as Sutton wheeled back the suspect vision. Currently, the NRL has no power to assess a controversial incident, unless Nine or Fox Sports replay it.
Thats fine, Archer said upon review of the footage, which was available in under a second. Greenberg said that due to the increased speed of technology and nine camera angles it was conceivable that the NRL match review committee could determine whether a charge would be laid after every match, as opposed to every Monday.
MORE RIGHT CALLS
The NRL currently uses more than 20 video referees across a season at eight different locations each weekend.
We will bring that down to a very small single digit number of people in one location, which is really conducive to good decision-making, Greenberg said. The three core components of this is efficiency; short, sharp decisions, getting on with it. The second part is consistency. Youve got three people making decisions over the weekend with a supervisor, potentially overseeing every game. Youve got the opportunity to be more accurate.
We dont know because were in the middle of scoping all this but it will be a significant investment for the game to make. It will be in the millions of dollars. But the thing that I think is really important for fans is what we call authenticity or transparency of how we make our decisions.
They would have full view of the process and understand how the decision is being made.
