It’s a matter of trust
Should refs give an opinion before sending a decision to the bunker?
ABSOLUTELY.
Remember why the video referee was originally brought in?
I recall it being to eliminate the shocking howlers that were so wrong that we couldn’t stand the thought of another match being decided in such a way; not to examine every possible way to deny a try.
I still believe that original philosophy is what the NRL should stick by.
How often do you or I or old mate in the pub whinge about yet another straightforward decision being referred upstairs?
We want the referees in fluoro yellow or pink or whatever colour they choose next to use their judgment and make a call as they did for the best part of the competition’s first 100 years.
When doubt enters the picture, at the very least the on-field officials should give an indication of what they believe to be the right answer because you know what, sometimes the dozens of slow-motion replays actually make things less clear rather than more. Think of obstruction rulings. Anyone who has played even a little bit of footy knows when a proper shepherd has taken place. It’s usually clear as day, one way or the other. Staring at the video almost complicates the decision. Tyrone Peachey’s try on Saturday was controversial but did the replays really show if the ball brushed his hand/arm or not? Or would those in the bunker have been forced into having a complete guess if not for the advice of the officials closest to the action? SHOULD I rob a bank? The question, clearly, is a loaded one.
I know the answer, but ask it only for warped validation that pinching those pennies is somehow going to be justified. Now look at NRL referees.
They literally tell us what their opinion is whenever a potential try is referred to the bunker.
I’m sorry, but what is the point of sending a call to a bloke miles from the action when you have another who has an opinion and is mere metres away?
Call it the ultimate revenge of middle management but this smacks of more double-handling than a game of hot potato.
They say refs have never been more anxious about making a call. I wonder why. We have the benefit of endless replays. They have to instantaneously make a call.
If they send it upstairs they are harpooned as “scared”. If they don’t they risk getting it wrong. Throw on top of that mud sandwich the fact they MUST give an opinion on every referral and you have an express ticket to a padded cell and discount voucher to the straight jacket store. Put simply, you can’t have things both ways.
If the ref has an opinion, then make the call: try or not.
If they don’t know, send the vision upstairs for them to butcher. If we persist with a bunker to go where on-field refs can’t, then accept that whistleblowers aren’t omnipresent. The bunker remains there to aid the refs, not be influenced by questions loaded with preconceived opinions.