Refs support NRL crackdown
RUGBY LEAGUE: Debate has raged at the top level of the game over a crackdown on the game’s rules.
The issue came to a head on Friday night, with 33 penalties blown in the Cronulla Sharks and Melbourne Storm encounter.
Everybody has thrown in their two cents on the matter, with some blaming players for repeatedly infringing during a game, while others are calling on match officials to put their whistle away.
Toowoomba Rugby League Referees Association vice president Adam Stevenson said the game would benefit from the stance the referees had taken.
“It’s a good thing for the game what the referees are doing. It instils the rules,” Stevenson said.
“At our (TRL) level, coaches don’t abuse rule privileges as much as they do in the NRL.
“It’s a good idea to highlight the rules that haven’t been enforced , so the rules can be seen for what they are.”
While a number of penalty counts have inflated, particularly last weekend, Stevenson said it would help in the long run.
“It’s a short-term pain for a long-term benefit,” he said.
“We don’t really have that issue in the local league.
“They are making a point and it seems to be working.”
Stevenson said referees taking charge of the rules was an advantage.
“I’ve said it for ages, and touch football is the same. You go into a rules meetings and there are more coaches there than referees,” he said.
“It’s good to see referees taking back the rules entity. We need to let referees referee and coaches coach.”
Sean Teuma