Phil Rothfield takes on NRL referees boss Bernard Sutton on rugby league’s officiating crisis

PHIL Rothfield goes head to head with NRL referees boss Bernard Sutton on the penalty crackdown, potential bias towards his brothers and if the league will bring back the one referee system.

NRL REFEREES boss Bernard Sutton has finally conceded his whistleblowers need to communicate better with players to stop the penalty blitz that has ruined the first half of the season.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Saturday Telegraph, Sutton answered questions about his perceived nepotism towards his brothers, the shabby treatment of grand final referee Matt Cecchin, the record number of penalties and the suggestions of favouritism towards Ashley Klein.

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BUZZ: The penalty crackdown ruined the first 14 rounds. What are your thoughts?

Sutton: If I had to choose one words on the refereeing I’d say consistent. We knew coming into the season we had to improve the standard of 10 metres.

We needed to be strong around that. There were some higher penalty counts but where it’s led us to, and Origin II was an example of this, is that it improved compliance on the 10 metres which actually allowed for more expansive movement of the football and it went from side to side and added to the product we were watching.

The penalty crackdown was highly controversial. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images.

BUZZ: I think it was over the top all these 20-penalty games. Stop start but I guess you were following instructions.

Sutton: I understand that point of view but we needed to improve the compliance around the 10 metres and the play the ball.

We’ve seen a significant improvement now in the play the ball. There’s a really positive response.

BUZZ: But the 10m crackdown was only on the trylines not other areas of the football field.

Sutton: One of the directions from the competitions committee is that we needed to be much stronger with our policing of infringements in those zones.

Yes it led to some high penalty counts. We’re not changing the standard we’re trying to achieve. On the 10 metres, if we identify a player is off-side being able to communicate to that player to get a response.

In Origin there were about 12 occasions where the referee actually communicated to the off-side player. There is more than one way to achieve a standard.

BUZZ: Why didn’t we have this communication at the beginning of the year?

Sutton: In the past we’d go down a track for two or three weeks and then generally the refs would drop off.

The pleasing thing for me is they didn’t this year. We were very consistent.

Referees are always a target for controversy. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images.

BUZZ: Well, why did Todd Greenberg come out and say stop nitpicking?

Sutton: We’re now saying if a ref can communicate with an off-side player and get a response from that, the game can keep moving.

We can go down this track now because players and coaches have an understanding they the referees are not afraid to blow a penalty if they have to.

In the past that was not always the case.

BUZZ: How do you feel about the perception of nepotism with your brother Gerard and Chris?

Sutton: It actually doesn’t faze me at all.

Bernard is in charge of his brothers Gerard and Chris Sutton. Phil Hillyard.

BUZZ: How could you drop your own brother. What if Gerard has a couple of bad games.

Sutton: I’ve already dropped Chris this year. He went from a head referee to an assist role. It was a demotion. I’ve actually demoted a number of referees this year. I deal with my brothers in exactly the same fashion.

It would be the same with Gerry if it was required. It really doesn’t worry me. I’m really confident in the criteria we use to select our referees.

I’m confident in the relationship I have with all our referees, everyone is treated equally.

BUZZ: What about Ashley Klein? There’s a perception he gets a rails run. He stuffed up that Broncos-Tigers game in Round 3.

Sutton: He was demoted after that game.

BUZZ: But he bounced straight back to do Anzac Day.

Sutton: Ashley had been refereeing really well with the exception of that one decision. Ultimately it decided the match.

When he came back into lead ref role he picked up his form and has maintained that.

BUZZ: Well, why’s he a pocket ref this weekend.

Sutton: He was assistant in first two Origins and has done a really good job. He’s there again to refine some of his assist role movements which gives him the opportunity to be considered again for Origin.

BUZZ: I would have thought the NRL games deserved the best eight referees each week in the head roles.

Sutton: We need to continue to develop referees. We need to bring guys through. We’ve had Jon Stone, Chris Sutton, Peter Gough and Chris Butler.

We have some refs closer to the end of their careers than the start. When they decide it’s time, we have to make sure we’re not left with a big hole.

BUZZ: Matt Cecchin. He’s the best referee since Bill Harrigan. The week you put him as a pocket referee for Henry Perenara, that was an insult.

Sutton: I have communication with all our guys every week as to where they are. The criteria for selection includes decision-making, communication, experience, there’s a range of factors. I’d been speaking with Matt and he’s been treated with consistency like all the referees.

Is Cecchin out of favour. AAP Image/Craig Golding.

BUZZ: But he went from number one to a pocket under Henry Perenara. Please.

Sutton: It was based on how he’d been travelling this season.

I’m really confident Matt’s moving in the right direction and will bounce back from it.

BUZZ: Is it true you hauled him in and accused him of leaking information to the media?

Sutton: Matt’s on our leadership group of five people. I deal with the leadership group on a range of issues every week.

BUZZ: Again, Was he asked about leaking to the media?

Sutton: We have conversations around a range of different issues. The same as every high performance team does.

You want that level of honesty within your team.

BUZZ: Why is the refs coach at the ground always tipping to the referees during the games?

Sutton: Not necessarily. In what context?

BUZZ: I’m told they update the refs on penalty accounts.

Sutton: They can communicate during the game. I a team continues to infringe, the on-field ref can say ‘can you just confirm that’s four penalties’ in a short space of time.

Belinda Sleeman and Kasey Badge are expected to referee NRL matches in the future.

BUZZ: I’ve been told they give reminder if the penalty count gets lopsided.

Sutton: The coach can be similar to a club coach and send a message to his team. They might say we need to fix the 10 metres or your 10 is too short you might need to take an extra step. Adjust your position on the edge. It depends on the game.

BUZZ: I like the one referee in the World Cup. Your thoughts?

Sutton: What we saw during the World Cup, as much as it was a great tournament, was a gradual slowing of the play the ball.

BUZZ: Looked good to me

Sutton: In terms of play the ball speed, I believe two referees is the right system. To achieve the right results for the NRL.

BUZZ: What about the girls Belinda Sleeman and Kasey Badger: Are they going to get a go in first grade?

Sutton: They work exceptionally hard and sit in our elite development squad with 12 other up and comers. Kasey and Belinda run the line in NRL. What they tell me when they get their opportunity in NRL, it needs to be on a merit based situation when they are the next in line. Potentially it might happen. They are developing nicely and are talented referees.

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Originally published as Phil Rothfield takes on NRL referees boss Bernard Sutton on rugby league’s officiating crisis