NRL email leak: Coaches warned over criticising referees
NRL coaches have been warned about commenting on referees during post-match media conferences, on radio and television interviews, and in club or personal social media posts. READ THE LETTER
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NRL coaches have been warned against talking about match officials after clubs were hit with a general caution by chief executive Andrew Abdo.
Abdo wrote to club bosses this week to tell them he plans on enforcing rules surrounding comments made by coaches and club officials towards match officials citing negative fan and media attention.
The NRL banned any talk by coaches of the match officials ahead of the 2015 season which prompted then Canterbury coach Des Hasler to channel Harry Potter by describing referees as ‘Voldemorts’.
The governing body had lightened their stance in recent seasons to sanction those who were deemed to be excessively critical or questioned the match officials integrity.
No coaches were fined last year for any comments made towards match officials.
However, Abdo has made it clear that there should be no comments made about match officials and the rules will be enforced this year.
“You may recall the club CEOs meeting during Magic Round last year where we discussed the public focus on officiating and comments by coaches that at times only serve amplify fan and media attention on what in many cases are simply differences of opinion,” Abdo wrote.
“The consensus at the meeting was the NRL should more strictly enforce the public comment rules in relation to match officials.
“Please can I ask you to advise your head coaches and all club officials, that the existing public comment provisions of the NRL rules will be more strictly enforced in 2025.
“This includes, but is not limited to, post-match media conferences, radio and television interviews, and club or personal social media posts.”
The NRL has also abandoned Graham Annesley’s weekly Monday review of the previous round but Abdo indicated the game would still “respond to any material issues as needed”.
Penrith’s premiership winning coach Ivan Cleary narrowly avoided a fine after taking aim at the bunker following the Panthers’ preliminary final win against Cronulla last year.
Cleary labelled a bunker decision to disallow a second-half Panthers because of an obstruction call as “terrible”.
Canterbury Bulldogs general manager and Channel 9 commentator Phil Gould was sanctioned for comments he made on 100 per cent Footy after calling the game “stupid” on multiple occasions.
Gould was issued with an official breach notice, proposing a $20,000 fine, half of it to be suspended over two years. Instead Gould appealed. The breach notice stood but the $20,000 is suspended for 12 months.
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Originally published as NRL email leak: Coaches warned over criticising referees
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