Sneaky referee tactics NRL players are using to influence the bunker revealed

NRL boss Andrew Abdo has called on players to be respectful to referees, as a sneaky tactic has emerged around close-talking players trying to influence the Bunker.

Canberra chief executive Don Furner has hit out at players attempting to “argue with and berate” referees amid relevations of a sneaky tactic where cunning players use close-talking to deceive the NRL bunker.

“Players are hoping to put psychological pressure on referees to influence their next decision,” Furner said.

“To let players stand there and just argue and berate referees is a bad look for the game and we have let it go too far.”

Furner was talking after reading the Bulldog’s Bite column which exposed an ugly cultural problem within rugby league in which players are aggressively complaining and disputing every referee decision.

And now one player who­ ­retired just two years ago has revealed a well-planned yet wily strategy where captains loudly query a decision with the audio streaming through the referee’s microphone into the bunker.

It can be revealed players are loudly voicing questions to the referees so it is picked up on their mic and heard by the Bunker.

While awaiting a bunker ­decision, the skipper deliberately stands close to the ref to ensure his comments channel through the microphone into the bunker where a senior review official is making a decision. Players hope their comments have a subconscious impact on the bunker.

“The bunker can hear what’s being said through the ref’s microphone so the players talk loudly. He will say things like ‘the player was offside’ or ‘that’s an obstruction’ loud enough knowing the bunker can hear it all,” the player said.

“That’s why the captain or player stands so close to ref, 100 per cent. Once a decision is sent to the bunker no player should be allowed to approach the ref. I also don’t think players should be allowed to approach the refs as they are walking off at halftime.”

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said: “Being a professional player comes with the responsibility to be disciplined and respectful. We expect players and fans to be respectful when communicating with match officials.

Raiders boss Don Furner has hit out at players attempting to “argue with and berate” referees. Picture: NRL

“It’s important that the premiership sets the standard and example for participants at every level of the game.

“The players are producing an exciting and entertaining 2025 premiership with unbelievable on-field skill. NRL and NRLW players are the best in the world at what they do (and) referees are there to do an extremely important job, and without them there is no game at any level.”

Furner criticised players who constantly harass referees.

“As a parent who watches junior footy, I agree that it’s getting totally out-of-hand. You do see kids imitating NRL players,” Furner said. “There’s a big difference between clarifying a rule or decision and just going up to a referee and ­arguing for the sake of it.

“Some players want to discuss calls that were made three tackles ago, or decisions made by someone sitting in a bunker 1000km away.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo is adamant that players must be respectful towards referees. Picture: Getty Images

“Not that long ago, if you backchatted the referee you got marched ten metres but referees seem reluctant to do that so now it’s just arguing the point on every decision.

“Some players walk around with their hands in the air most of the game.

“You also see players debating with referees as they walk off at halftime, that would be easy to stop, just don’t allow it to happen. Generally speaking, the more experienced the captain or player, the more times they will approach a referee.

“Coaches would soon instruct their captains not to do it if they were marched 10 metres or penalised.”

In a poll by this masthead asking if referees need to sin bin players who excessively and aggressively dispute ­decisions, 92 per cent of more than 1500 fans voted yes.

Originally published as Sneaky referee tactics NRL players are using to influence the bunker revealed