Former referees boss Bill Harrigan offers olive branch to NRL
HE is arguably the greatest referee of all-time, but he hasn’t had contact from the NRL for any advice or guidance since he was sacked as referee’s boss.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
PICK up the phone and call him, for the good of rugby league.
Bill Harrigan, arguably the greatest referee of all time, revealed he hadn’t had contact from the NRL for any advice or guidance since he was sacked as NRL referee’s boss in late 2012.
That’s despite a tsunami of criticism over referees’ performances in recent times.
A snubbed Harrigan told The Daily Telegraph he would consider a shock return if the NRL needed him.
“I’ve never been asked for advice, input, never been asked for anything, nothing at all,” Harrigan said.
“Since October, 2012 I have never had anything to do with the NRL.
“Look, if I was there and I needed advice, I would go to someone who has experience and has ‘been there, done that’.
“If I was in there and I needed help or advice, I would have gone to my predecessors, guys like Mick Stone and Greg McCallum, other referees. McCallum ran it successfully in the UK for many years, Mick Stone ran it many years before me.”
There is a theory Harrigan fell out with some influential figures at the NRL.
Harrigan wouldn’t name names but did concede: “The last thing they are going to do is go and ask for advice from Bill or get him back to help us.”
Tony Archer still heads up the refereeing unit with Bernard Sutton the head coach.
“If they asked, yes, I would consider it,” Harrigan said of returning, seven years after he was appointed NRL referees chief in 2011.
“That would of course depend on the commitment required.
“Gus (Gould) said he would get it right within a year and do it for nothing. If I was Todd Greenberg, I’d say: “Righto, I’m accepting your offer — what have you got?’
“What have you got to lose when they (the referees) are going the way they are.”
Harrigan adjudicated a record 10 first grade grand finals, 21 State of Origin games and 25 Test matches.
Strong, respected and forceful, Harrigan is often spoken about as the game’s all-time premier referee.
McCallum, a former grand final, Origin and international referee, is another who would like to help.
“People respect my opinion and seek my opinion quite regularly — hopefully one day the opportunity to become involved will come again,” McCallum said.
Social media has exploded after most rounds this season with fans, members and punters angry at multiple refereeing decisions.
The NRL did not wish to comment on the possibility of luring Harrigan back.
Harrigan conceded there were troubles in the refereeing ranks, admitting there were some “howlers’ last weekend.
He was though a supporter of the much-maligned refereeing crackdown earlier this season.
“Once you fix the problem you can let it slide a little bit,” Harrigan said.
“Then it’s about maintaining a balance. A balance of ‘I’ve got the standard I require but we’ve got an entertaining game again’.”