Blog with Buzz: NRL blows its referees experiment at RLWC
BLOG WITH BUZZ: The NRL announced at the beginning of the World Cup that the tournament would be used as an experiment to determine if the one-referee system was best. Then they blew it.
Phil Rothfield
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THE NRL announced at the beginning of the World Cup that the tournament would be used as an experiment to determine if the one-referee system was the way to go in next year’s premiership.
The governing body would do its homework over the entire tournament then make a decision. Since then the game’s best player, Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith, has said one referee is better than two.
The game’s most successful coach, Wayne Bennett, agreed.
They both favour scrapping the two-referee system, which has been a disaster in the NRL.
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Your columnist agrees. One instead of two could halve the number of blunders. More importantly, it would create more consistency.
Typical of the NRL, head of football Brian Canavan has jumped the gun.
Last week he announced two referees were here to stay. This decision, inexplicably, was made before the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
“The two-referee system, with the speed of our game, is the one our stats say is best to be retained,’’ Canavan said.
So Smith and Bennett wouldn’t know what they are talking about. Their opinions are ignored. Instead, Canavan bases his decision on the thoughts of Tony Archer.
On games involving hopeless teams such as USA, Wales, France and Scotland without even waiting for the pressure games in the finals.
Never mind the fact Archer is being moved on as the boss of the referees.
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This is just another example of slapdash NRL management. The World Cup was never an experiment. Otherwise the NRL would have waited until after the final.
It is treating us all like mugs.
We all know the standard of refereeing in the NRL last season was at an all-time low.
Different decisions and different interpretations in every game in every round.
At least we’ve seen faster and more free-flowing football in recent weeks. Less nitpicking and fewer errors.
Fans, coaches and players at least deserved a proper trial in the World Cup.
Originally published as Blog with Buzz: NRL blows its referees experiment at RLWC
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