The NRL is on the verge of testing forward pass technology

NRL head of football Graham Annesley has confirmed that the game is on the verge of testing forward pass technology

The Raiders have supported coach Ricky Stuart following his reaction to the club’s controversial loss to New Zealand Warriors on Saturday Picture: Getty Images

It will come too late for Canberra and their frustrated coach Ricky Stuart but the NRL could be on the verge of using forward pass technology after head of football Graham Annesley confirmed he was hopeful that it could be tested at some point this season.

Annesley has been locked in talks with an unnamed company over the prospect of using technology to rule on forward passes and he confirmed on Monday afternoon at his weekly media briefing that the concept was nudging closer to fruition.

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It comes after a weekend when Stuart came under spotlight over his reaction to his side’s defeat at the hands of the Warriors, who scored a decisive try off a pass that was later deemed forward by referees boss Jared Maxwell.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo is in the process of reviewing Stuart’s reaction in the post-match press conference – he left after one question – as well as allegations that were raised in the ground manager’s report about his behaviour on the sidelines.

Canberra chief executive Don Furner had no issue with the way Stuart handled himself and said he would be disappointed if he was sanctioned. Annesley spoke to Furner over the weekend and confirmed on Monday that referee Henry Perenara had made a mistake.

“We put up our hand on this one,” Annesley said.

“I am not going to stand here and try to pretend that it wasn’t forward.”

Asked about the potential for technology to be expanded to forward passes, Annesley remains hopeful.

“I think every time we talk about it and every time we are asked about it, we are of course closer,” he said.

“Is it going to happen this season? No, it is not going to happen this season. We are making good progress in terms of a potential development that would help solve this problem.

“We have been talking to a company for quite some time. I am hopeful we are not that far off a trial or test of the technology.

“If we get to that point and we can be convinced that it is accurate, it becomes a business case we have to mount to the commission to justify the expenditure and the benefit that will flow from that expenditure.”

Annesley indicated any trial of the technology would not be carried out in an official NRL game.

“My intention is to try to get a trial up this year,” he said.

“Won’t be in an NRL game. It could potentially be in a training session where we put the technology in place and we are able to use the technology to convince ourselves to that the validity of the technology … would work in our game and our circumstances.

“That would be more likely something that would come to fruition after we run a trial. If it successful we are on our way.

“I am hopeful it will be this year. We are not going to be experimenting with this stuff under the pressure of an NRL game and you don’t need to determine whether the technology works or not.

“We just need to set up a game – a practice game of sorts – put the technology in place and then determine whether it meets our needs or not.”

Annesley refused to be drawn on the prospect of an 18th man being introduced for the remainder of the season as a means to combat the concerning injury toll.

However, the ARL Commission will meet on Tuesday and it is believed they have been furnished with statistics from the opening three weeks of the premiership.

The players union wants it to be used from this week, although Rugby League Players Association general president Daly Cherry-Evans said on Monday morning that he was happy to be guided by the NRL.

“So I’m sort of pretty impartial to whether they do or don’t do anything about it,” Cherry-Evans said.

“The people that are making those decisions, they’re doing the best thing for the players. So if they end up making the change, then I’ll support it.”

Amid allegations that the game had become too quick and players were suffering as a result, Annesley said there was no evidence to suggest the play was any faster in 2021.

Cherry-Evans also insisted players had to adapt.

“No, it’s not too fast,” he said.

“It’s quick, but it’s just that’s where the game’s at. So you just got to adapt and keep up.”