‘Fans want the drama’: NRL greats divided over crackdown on coaches criticising refs

A leaked email sent from NRL head office to all clubs has signalled a big change in the game and left greats divided.

The NRL has sent a letter to all clubs warning their coaches about criticising referees this season.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo wrote to club bosses this week in a bid to reduce negative attention on referees, according to Code Sports.

A similar directive was issued when Todd Greenberg was NRL boss but that approach had loosened in recent years.

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Previously, only comments that were deemed excessive or questioned the integrity of officials were punished, with no punishments dished out to any coaches in 2024.

But now Abdo wants to tighten things back up.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League Andrew Abdo is cracking down. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“The coaches are going to have to try and tiptoe around this because we’re still going to ask the questions,” Daily Telegraph journalist Michael Carayannis said on NRL 360.

But NRL icon Gordon Tallis backed the new approach.

“I don’t think it helps, I really don’t think it helps. Going to junior rugby league (games), it does filter down,” he said.

“Even though they’re two totally different games, one is for fun and one is professional. But every single losing coach has to talk about (refereeing) decisions, not their players and I think it’s only going to help the referees and help the game.

“It’s not going to stop fans talking about it, it’s going to stop coaches blaming them.”

Braith Anasta said: “I just look at from an all-access (perspective). The fans want to see the press conference and the drama, it’s TV, you watch and tune in.”

“We’re old enough to remember Bozo (Bob Fulton) saying the hopes a cement truck hits Bill Harrigan on the way home,” James Hooper said.

“Those days are long gone and we’re never going to go back anywhere near that. I still think it is fair enough (in some circumstances). If it’s a 9-1 penalty count then that’s a legitimate question.

“The incident like what happened on the weekend with the (Bulldogs) penalty try, well that’s a legitimate question at a press conference and the coaches are entitled to answer honestly.”

Abdo has scrapped Graham Annesley’s weekly review of contentious decisions.

“You may recall the club CEOs meeting during Magic Round last year where we discussed the public focus on officiating and comments by coaches that at times only serve amplify fan and media attention on what in many cases are simply differences of opinion,” Abdo wrote in the letter this week.

“The consensus at the meeting was the NRL should more strictly enforce the public comment rules in relation to match officials.

“Please can I ask you to advise your head coaches and all club officials, that the existing public comment provisions of the NRL rules will be more strictly enforced in 2025.

“This includes, but is not limited to, post-match media conferences, radio and television interviews, and club or personal social media posts.”

Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould was last season handed a punishment in the form of a breach notice for comments he made on Channel 9’s 100% Footy.

A $20,000 fine was also issued, which was suspended for 12 months.

Originally published as ‘Fans want the drama’: NRL greats divided over crackdown on coaches criticising refs