The NRL make changes to how the referees Bunker will operate in 2017

THE NRL’s announced changes to how the Bunker will work in 2017 can be a tad confusing. More baffling though is their claim they only made FIVE mistakes in 2016.

NRL referees Bunker. Picture: NRL Photos.

• Buzz: NRL’s top 10 people under pressure
• NRL SuperCoach bye planner
• Buzz Comment: Bunker change one of NRL’s dumbest decisions

THE NRL’s controversial bunker system will no longer be used to determine knock-ons in general play or be called upon for 40-20 calls in 2017.

After consultation with a number of stakeholders, including coaches and the competition committee the centralised officiating booth will only rule on pointscoring plays, in-goal restarts and reportable fouls.

The NRL revealed the changes today.

“As we all become more accustomed to the incredible technology that we have at our disposal, we will always look to refine the system to ensure that the bunker serves the fans, the clubs and players in the best way possible,” NRL head of football Brian Canavan said.

The changes will be tested for the first time on Friday during the All Stars match in Newcastle.

NRL referees boss Tony Archer said the bunker would continue to improve officiating in the game following its inaugural season.

“A review of the bunker after the first year identified that the most appropriate areas our reviewers should be involved in are pointscoring plays, in-goal restarts and reportable foul play,” Archer said.

“In all other aspects of officiating, the on-field officials will make the call.”

Archer said video review times in 2016 were down 17 per cent on the previous video referee system in 2015.

He also claimed only five mistakes were made out of 709 video referrals in 2016.

The make-up of the video review teams will also be altered in 2017. The senior review official will be aided by one review official and a Hawkeye technician.

NRL head of football Brian Canavan said in relation to the Bunker no longer overturning double knock-ons: “What we want to do is react to our fans who didn’t want over-intrusion of video referrals, so we just reduced it to the key areas, which relate to in-goal, and try-scoring plays.

“We want to empower our on-field referees to make those (knock-on) decisions. They do a very good job of it.

“We also wanted to speed up the game. It’s a very unique aspect of our game of rugby league, it’s high intensity, it rolls the whole time, and we want to keep that.’’

IN OTHER NEWS: FORMER EELS MANAGER CHARGED WITH FRAUD