Video referee Sean Hampstead stood down by NRL due to errors

THE video referee who allowed Maroons superstar Greg Inglis to score the most controversial try in Origin history has been stood down by the NRL.

THE video referee who allowed Maroons superstar Greg Inglis to score the most controversial try in Origin history has been stood down by the NRL.

Sean Hampstead, better known as Mr Bean because of his resemblance to English actor Rowan Atkinson's clumsy character, has been rested from this weekend's round 13.

Referees bosses Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper met with the still shaken video ref on Monday after he came up with another contentious decision in Sunday's Penrith-Manly game to follow the "GI Joke" Origin blunder.

"Sean has never been through anything like this," Raper told The Daily Telegraph last night.

"It's been a tough period and it has taken its toll on him. We had him in yesterday and decided a rest would be beneficial. He can get his focus back for the following week."

Talkback: Should Hampstead have been hooked? Have your say from 12:30pm Wednesday

Just four days after the Inglis controversy, Hampstead awarded a match-turning try to Penrith centre Geoff Daniela against the Sea Eagles when it appeared he had not grounded the ball with downward pressure.

Another video referee, former player Paul Mellor, was also "rested" from this weekend's round after disallowing what appeared to be a fair try to Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano.

Harrigan and Raper spoke to all video referees on Monday about a number of controversial incidents in recent weeks.

They were reminded to use the benefit-of-the-doubt option for the more arguable tries instead of leaving themselves open to the public backlash.

Meanwhile, Blues coach Ricky Stuart's meeting with NRL boss David Gallop over the Origin refereeing has been put back until next week.

Stuart's chief adviser Bob Fulton will also be attending the meeting to lay bare their claims of up to 10 major errors by the referees in the opening game of the series in Melbourne.

Yesterday Harrigan claimed his video referees are enjoying a 97 per cent success rate this season. "That equates to eight mistakes this season," he said.

The Daily Telegraph, however, can reveal six incidents involving the video ref during the past three weeks that have been heavily disputed. There were three controversies in round 10 alone.

Titans winger David Mead was disallowed a try against the Bulldogs but there was no separation with the ball and it could have been given the benefit of the doubt.

During the Warriors-Roosters match, Roosters centre Tautau Moga was denied a try because fullback Anthony Minichiello knocked on. But the ball appears to go backwards without touching a Warriors defender.

And in the Knights-Cowboys game, centre Kane Linnett was disallowed a try when he looked to have grounded the ball simultaneously with Newcastle's Akuila Uate.

In round 11 at Brookvale, Roosters halfback Daniel Mortimer was denied a try after forward Brad Takairangi was ruled to have elbowed Manly defender Daniel Harrison. Harrigan later said the call was wrong. And in the same round, Bulldogs back Jonathan Wright was awarded a try but the ball bobbled out of his control and into a Sharks defender.

"The video referee mistake rate is on par with last year," Harrigan said.

"It is running at 97 per cent (correct decisions). I would still like that to be better. I have always said I can live with anything under a 3 per cent mistake rate."

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