NRL 2022 season review: Top coaches lead push for return to two referee system
Several NRL coaches have thrown their support behind the reintroduction of two referees. Find out why they are keen for the change.
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Multiple high-profile coaches have told NRL powerbrokers during an end-of-season review completed this week of their appetite for the ARL Commission to introduce a second referee for a second time.
News Corp has been told Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy, Canberra’s Ricky Stuart, South Sydney’s Jason Demetriou, Cronulla’s Craig Fitzgibbon and North Queensland’s Todd Payten are among the coaches in favour of another on-field official cleaning up the ruck.
Manly’s Des Hasler is another a supporter of two referees. One coach even claimed a second referee would ease the concerning amount of injuries and concussions.
The NRL has just completed a workshop interviewing all 16 clubs about the past season and the hunger for a return to two referees was a consistent topic.
Some head coaches are also suggesting the NRL consider a ruck referee without a whistle, with any indiscretions being communicated to a head referee. The ruck ref would be instructed to eliminate any flopping and hands on the ball to ensure on-field continuity.
“I wouldn’t oppose it going back to two,” Payten said.
Asked whether he supported two referees, Demetriou added: “If it means the bunker stays out of the game unless it’s try scoring, then yes.”
Stuart and Bellamy are certainly pro-two refs. Fitzgibbon is a cautious supporter but would like to see two refs considered again.
A two-referee system was implemented in 2009 before being axed three years ago in favour of a single ref due to cost-cutting through Covid.
Eels coach Brad Arthur isn’t concerned about the number of referees, declaring: “I’m happy either way – there are pluses both ways.”
Pressed on whether he was a fan of two referees, Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said: “No.”
However another coach, who wished to remain anonymous, gave reasons why he wanted the extra referee.
“Two referees … the number one referee stays on the ruck and the second referee marks the 10 metres. But with two referees, that 10 metres can be interpreted as 13 metres at the start of the game,” he said.
“What that does is bring fatigue into the game and sides can’t afford to put three or four defenders into a tackle because, if they do, that commits too many and they can’t get their defenders back into the line to get the balance.
“With that, there are less injuries and less concussions. It takes out the contact and takes out bigger bodies and concussion and brings back all the little men. Sides have to make a choice. Some clubs make more two-man tackles because they want to protect the integrity of their defensive line whereas others will direct three and four in.
“By the time players jump and fudge defensively, 10 metres in our game is five metres. They are up five to six metres before the dummy half picks up the ball and passes. Keep ‘em 13 or 14 metres apart with a second referee, it’s a wonderful game.”
All clubs were asked by the NRL to offer views about on-field matters from this year and to suggest any changes. The NRL will collate the data from clubs before presenting the information to ARL commissioners for consideration.
NRL head of football elite competitions Graham Annesley conducted four different season reviews incorporating four clubs each session.
Other discussion points at the feedback sessions included finetuning the captain’s challenge and identifying ways to eradicate teams conceding a deliberate off-side penalty from a scrum loss.
A number of clubs also expressed concern at the duration of matches through multiple stoppages. Some games are running for two hours.
“The length of some games were just ridiculous – when you’re encroaching on the (television) news on a Sunday night (at 6pm) you know you’ve gone too long,” said one football manager. “But there is no real quick fix because the captain’s challenge, sin bins and players being placed on report are all part of that.”
Clubs – represented by either their CEO, coach or football manager — were also presented with extensive season statistics.
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