NRL blows time out on dual referees

Chairman Peter V’landys insisted the fans were in mind after the ARL Commission reverted to one referee for the season.

Two referees was the preferred option of players and coaches Picture: AAP

Chairman Peter V’landys insisted the fans were at the forefront of their thoughts after the ARL Commission on Wednesday night rubber-stamped a reversion to one referee for what remains of the 2020 season.

In listening to the fans, however, the commission appears to have overlooked the views of coaches and players, who en masse had warned against reverting to one referee.

Born out of the desire to cut costs, V’landys has championed a change that has the potential to damage the game as a product. All for less than $1 million if you listen to people who have knowledge of the situation.

The NRL has done away with the part-time and casual employees who used to control the touch line. Instead, fulltime referees will be used as touch judges.

The referee will be given the ability to restart the tackle count for ruck infringements, a measure designed to reduce the impact of the wrestle.

Most expect the wrestle to become more prevalent given one referee has been removed from the field. V’landys has been a breath of fresh air for the game, his bullish style lauded for helping the game career towards a May 28 restart.

Yet, he has put some of that goodwill at risk by backing the decision to revert to one referee against the advice of coaches and players alike. Instead, if you believe the NRL release, he has listened to the fans.

The NRL confirmed referees would retain the right to issue a full penalty and place players in the sin bin for persistent ruck infringements and professional fouls. They said in a statement that the commission had determined the changes would create more entertaining and free flowing rugby league.

“The decision shouldn’t been seen as taking one referee out, it should be that we are using three fulltime experienced referees controlling the game which will ensure greater surveillance of the ruck and the wrestle,’’ V’landys said. “This decision will significantly reduce the number of stoppages in games and showcase more open unstructured play for the benefit of fans.

“These decisions address the issue of wrestling and slowing the ruck down which has been the biggest issue in the game.

“It’s clear the current system hasn’t effectively addressed the issue of wrestling in the game. Reverting to one referee together with the new six-again rule gives us a chance to speed up the ruck and create more free flowing rugby league.’’

V’landys said the commission had also taken into account the view of fans.

“When I became chairman, I said I would listen to the fans,” he said.

“Last year we conducted a fan survey and the overwhelming majority of fans said they wanted to go back to one referee and their views should be taken on board.”

The commission has given a commitment that all 22 fulltime referees would be retained for the remainder of the season and there is no intent to reduce that number in 2021.

The commission will also review the one referee model at the end of the year to determine whether it remains a permanent fixture for future seasons.

Meanwhile, Gold Coast pair Bryce Cartwright and Brian Kelly have until Thursday to have a flu injection or face the prospect of being stood down and potentially sacked by the Titans.

Cartwright and Kelly were given a deadline by the club after the Queensland government refused to ease their rules around vaccination requirements.

They are banned from training or playing in Queensland because they do not have a medical reason for their refusal to have flu injections — they are both considered conscientious objectors.