NRL after Madge for refs’ role

THE NRL has acted on years of refereeing and bunker controversy by chasing former South Sydney coach Michael Maguire to overhaul the referees’ ranks.

Under a proposal, current referees boss Tony Archer will be moved to a national development role and will have no input on the appointment of referees or video officials each week.

Maguire, if he accepts the job, will be on a panel of three to appoint the referees each week to remove any perception of bias or favouritism.

NRL head of football Brian Canavan recently approached Maguire to take on a full- time coaching role with the referees when it was clear Brad Fittler had the inside running to be appointed NSW coach, a job Maguire had applied for.

Maguire is considering the offer and has denied a report linking him to Parramatta as an assistant coach.

“It would be good to come from a footy angle and not just refereeing,” he said. “I’m looking at it with interest and I know nothing about anything at Parramatta. At some stage I’d like to get back into the coaching ranks but I also want to stay in the game and help grow the game in some capacity.

“Having a break gives you a chance to stop and assess what you’ve been doing. Long term it’s going to be beneficial.”

Archer has been under enormous pressure for several years at the NRL.

A current referee recently contacted News Corp Australia to reveal there was unrest among the whistleblowers over their coaching and weekend appointments. The same referee is understood to have met Canavan on behalf of his colleagues.

Maguire would be joined by chief video reviewer Bernard Sutton on the three- man panel to appoint the referees each week.

Archer again created controversy this week by appointing Gerard Sutton to referee Saturday’s World Cup final between the Kangaroos and England at Suncorp Stadium. This is despite Matt Cecchin being the No. 1 referee in the game for two years.