The Chief Executives Annual Conference has today lent its support to a proposal for two referees being introduced to Telstra Premiership matches along with recommendations limiting the powers of the video referee.
Already endorsed by coaches, players, and media and game representatives at a conference in Sydney earlier this year, the concept will now be taken to the NRL Board on December 11.
The two referee model will be applied for the Telstra Premiership only and will see one referee oversee the play-the-ball and another based on the ten-metre line. The referee on the ten-metre line would be the one who will use the whistle to order stoppages or penalties. The second referee would communicate directly to the referee controlling the whistle. The referees will have the option of alternating roles during the match.
“The proposal is still to be adopted by the Board but it’s significant that a number of Board Members were here today and certainly we are looking at this as part of a significant investment in further raising the standards of on-field decisions,” NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today. “It is something that has been debated many times and there is a strong view that we need to try it and to see if it does in fact lead to the outcomes we all want which is greater consistency and a better flowing game. If it doesn’t add value or if it is not proving effective then we would review it and make further changes if and when necessary.”
The Football Operations conference had also voted that the Video Referee should no longer be involved in determining penalties for stripping of the ball during tackles. The football conference was largely split on whether video referees should retain a role in identifying foul play and subsequent submissions from the Players Association suggested it was important for the welfare of players that some safeguard in this area existed.
The CEO’s today endorsed an NRL recommendation that the video referee can assist in alerting the referee to a matter of foul play only on the proviso that the incident is of a serious enough nature to warrant the offending player being placed on report. “Under the previous rule the video referee had no discretion and any minor matter would result in a penalty,” NRL Chief Operating Officer Mr Graham Annesley said. Because he had no discretion it could be argued there was an incentive for players to ‘stay down’ in the hope that they may receive penalty. Under this system he would only intervene when the matter was of a more serious nature and he would have the discretion to determine that.”
The NRL is also planning to introduce a specific judiciary category to cover “grapple tackles” and “wrestling”. Previously charges in this area have been laid under the heading of contrary conduct. Under the separate judiciary heading of Grappling/Wrestling grade one charges will incur less than one hundred points with significantly higher penalties for grade two and above. “It’s similar to the philosophy which worked in terms of dangerous throws some years ago,” Mr Annesley said. As referees monitor this area even more closely next year, including greater use of the sin-bin, there is the option of judiciary charges even at the lesser end of the scale and the deterrent of greater penalties for serious offences. There is a strong push from a number of areas to ensure that there is an increased crack down on grapple tackles next year.”
The NRL has also recommended a minor amendment to prevent time wasting around scrums. Under existing guidelines the referee will blow time off when one side forms a scrum but he will signal time on the moment those players “disengage” to change roles with other players. Among other issues discussed today was a proposal for the game to restrict coaches and players from making comment in relation to any impending judiciary hearings.
The Cowboys have also put forward a proposal to change the loading calculations for “prior similar offences” under the judiciary code and it has been agreed that there will be further examination of the loading system next year. The CEO’s have today endorsed an NRL proposal that a player’s carry over points reduce by five points for every match that he competes without further charge.
The judiciary chairman will also be asked to provide a clear set of directions to discourage players leading with their feet in trying to prevent a ball carrier grounding the ball over the try-line.
Club CEO’s have also undertaken to commit to an age group for the 2010 Toyota Cup competition by March 2009.
The Under 20’s age was locked in for an initial two year period and its success to date has led to both sponsorship renewals and the signing of a new multi-million dollar rights agreement with Fox Sports.
Clubs today said that the setting of the age going forward was critically dependent on NSW Rugby League plans to grow the NSW Cup open age competition and to re-define its current age competitions which operate beneath the Toyota Cup. There was also support for the judiciary taking a more stringent line in terms of any on-field fighting that may occur in Toyota Cup matches. There will be a particular focus on increasing judiciary charges to provide a strong deterrent in the second half of the season when some players may be aware that they are not progressing to the next season.
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