Refs blow whistle on NRL safety

‘‘The league bosses were simply arrogant with this one ref decision.’’

The referees’ war with the NRL has grown uglier, with their union accusing the NRL of overlooking player safety in the decision to go back to one whistleblower.

As both sides prepared for the weekend’s arbitration hearing, the referees yesterday labelled the NRL ‘‘arrogant’’ and like a ‘‘bull in a china shop’’ rushing to make changes.

The comments infuriated ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys, who said referees had lost all credibility with the claims.

He also shot back at the group’s willingness to take a pay cut to stick with two officials, arguing that the union are pushing to still receive 100 per cent of their pay.

The comments leave both sides bitter, just six days out from the league’s resumption.

‘‘It’s simple: Today’s game is safer with two refs,’’ the Professional Rugby League Match Officials said in a statement.

‘‘On numerous occasions, the second referee has picked up potential causes of harm to players which were not detected by the other three match officials, nor the bunker. This includes tackles, holds and throws that can cause significant injury.

‘‘Identifying and responding to these incidents promptly is crucial in

Professional Rugby League Match Officials

ensuring player safety . . . But this does not appear to concern the league’s bosses.’’

The union said the NRL had ignored the pleas of coaches of players during a May 11 Apollo meeting in moving to the one-referee system.

‘‘The league bosses were simply arrogant with this one ref decision,’’ the statement said. ‘They were like a bull in a china shop.

But V’landys rubbished the argument. He believes under his plan there will be extra qualified eyes on the ruck, with officials who have previously been pocket referees now acting as touch judges.

Both they and the bunker will be given license to communicate with the central referee on the ruck as part of the changes approved by the commission.

‘‘For them to use that it’s about the safety of players destroys their credibility,’’ V’landys told AAP. ‘‘They should speak on the facts.’’