Peculiar reason revealed why Super League's on-field video referee call remains

[josie andrews]

There has been an expectation the much-maligned rule would end

Captain's challenge is coming to Super League this year and while its arrival has been highly approved, another expected change did not come to fruition.

From this season, clubs will be able to contest a referee's decision if they believe they have been hard done by, following the concept that was introduced to the NRL several years ago.

Its arrival is not much as a surprise given the RFL's head of match officials, Phil Bentham, hinted earlier in the year that it was being looked at. However, something else that Bentham previously spoke about has not happened.

The on-field video referee call has been the subject of much debate over the years. Many supporters have expressed their dislike for the rule, which forces the match official to provide a verdict on a potential try, despite sending it upstairs due to being uncertain about what they've seen. As a result, the video referee must then categorically prove the referee's initial call was incorrect, resulting in some questionable outcomes.

It had been suggested that a change to the system could be made this year, removing the need for a referee to make that call but that hasn't happened - for the most peculiar of reasons.

Explaining why the on-field call has stayed, Bentham told All Out Rugby League: "It was looked at by Laws Committee. They felt the Australian model was probably the better option where when a try is awarded, it is reviewed. But the problem was a logistical one regarding resetting of clocks on the game.

"If a ref awards a try, it's subsequently checked. One minute later the ref makes an error in awarding a try, we need a facility to rewind the clocks because you've lost time from the game and we struggled to find a solution to that.

You need to be able to show the time in the stadium and what we struggled to was a plug in to what Sky use and the time being correct on the screen. When we investigated the equipment and the requirements, it was extortionate, so it meant we couldn't do it and had to abandon it in October."

Meanwhile, Bentham has expressed a desire to provide in-stadium communication from referees to the live crowd in the future, but admitted it wouldn't be coming this year.

"It's something that's under review," he said. "We felt football were going to bring it in, so we were going to see what the British reaction was to it, whether people think it's useful or not. We've just kept it under review for now."

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/new ... 48a1cfd938

[Mike]

"If a ref awards a try, it's subsequently checked. One minute later the ref makes an error in awarding a try, we need a facility to rewind the clocks because you've lost time from the game and we struggled to find a solution to that.

You need to be able to show the time in the stadium and what we struggled to was a plug in to what Sky use and the time being correct on the screen. When we investigated the equipment and the requirements, it was extortionate, so it meant we couldn't do it and had to abandon it in October."

What? I'm not following. Don't we stop the clock if a try is scored and sent to the screen? What's the difference?

Maybe he's talking about when a ref doesn't award a try and play's on, but later on we find out that a try was actually scored and we can't rewind the clocks? That's nothing like what he said in that quote though, and that's the current situation anyway.

We used to have this alternative system when the ref's call came after the VR so how were we able to do it then and not now?

No idea what he's going on about TBH.

Its good to know how skilled at explaining the rule of the game the head of refs is!

[WarriorWinger]

"If a ref awards a try, it's subsequently checked. One minute later the ref makes an error in awarding a try, we need a facility to rewind the clocks because you've lost time from the game and we struggled to find a solution to that.

You need to be able to show the time in the stadium and what we struggled to was a plug in to what Sky use and the time being correct on the screen. When we investigated the equipment and the requirements, it was extortionate, so it meant we couldn't do it and had to abandon it in October."

What? I'm not following. Don't we stop the clock if a try is scored and sent to the screen? What's the difference?

Maybe he's talking about when a ref doesn't award a try and play's on, but later on we find out that a try was actually scored and we can't rewind the clocks? That's nothing like what he said in that quote though, and that's the current situation anyway.

We used to have this alternative system when the ref's call came after the VR so how were we able to do it then and not now?

No idea what he's going on about TBH.

Its good to know how skilled at explaining the rule of the game the head of refs is!

Hi Mike, if I am reading it correctly I think he is saying that when a try is scored and the ref awards the try the clock continues to run for 1 minute for the kick at goal to be taken.

In the NRL when a try is awarded it is reviewed by the bunker every time, then sometimes referred to the VR once everyone has celebrated and set up for the kick, as there is some doubt about it.

If we adopted the NRL model we would not be able to rewind the clock back if it was deemed to be a no try, whereas currently the clock is automatically stopped if the ref refers it up to the VR if he is unsure, I think this is what he is trying to say.

[Mike]

"If a ref awards a try, it's subsequently checked. One minute later the ref makes an error in awarding a try, we need a facility to rewind the clocks because you've lost time from the game and we struggled to find a solution to that.

You need to be able to show the time in the stadium and what we struggled to was a plug in to what Sky use and the time being correct on the screen. When we investigated the equipment and the requirements, it was extortionate, so it meant we couldn't do it and had to abandon it in October."

What? I'm not following. Don't we stop the clock if a try is scored and sent to the screen? What's the difference?

Maybe he's talking about when a ref doesn't award a try and play's on, but later on we find out that a try was actually scored and we can't rewind the clocks? That's nothing like what he said in that quote though, and that's the current situation anyway.

We used to have this alternative system when the ref's call came after the VR so how were we able to do it then and not now?

No idea what he's going on about TBH.

Its good to know how skilled at explaining the rule of the game the head of refs is!

Hi Mike, if I am reading it correctly I think he is saying that when a try is scored and the ref awards the try the clock continues to run for 1 minute for the kick at goal to be taken.

In the NRL when a try is awarded it is reviewed by the bunker every time, then sometimes referred to the VR once everyone has celebrated and set up for the kick, as there is some doubt about it.

If we adopted the NRL model we would not be able to rewind the clock back if it was deemed to be a no try, whereas currently the clock is automatically stopped if the ref refers it up to the VR if he is unsure, I think this is what he is trying to say.

Ah! Makes sense. We already have that problem in a more minor way, if a ref thinks no-try and play on, and the other team make a break or something that means there's some considerable time until the next stoppage, but then he refers to the screen and the try is given - we lose that time between the "try" that was not given and the end of the next tackle. Pretty rare but that could happen. Fancy SKY not being able to reset a clock! I'm pretty sure my TV engineering mate could do that no problem.

[WarriorWinger]

What? I'm not following. Don't we stop the clock if a try is scored and sent to the screen? What's the difference?

Maybe he's talking about when a ref doesn't award a try and play's on, but later on we find out that a try was actually scored and we can't rewind the clocks? That's nothing like what he said in that quote though, and that's the current situation anyway.

We used to have this alternative system when the ref's call came after the VR so how were we able to do it then and not now?

No idea what he's going on about TBH.

Its good to know how skilled at explaining the rule of the game the head of refs is!

Hi Mike, if I am reading it correctly I think he is saying that when a try is scored and the ref awards the try the clock continues to run for 1 minute for the kick at goal to be taken.

In the NRL when a try is awarded it is reviewed by the bunker every time, then sometimes referred to the VR once everyone has celebrated and set up for the kick, as there is some doubt about it.

If we adopted the NRL model we would not be able to rewind the clock back if it was deemed to be a no try, whereas currently the clock is automatically stopped if the ref refers it up to the VR if he is unsure, I think this is what he is trying to say.

Ah! Makes sense. We already have that problem in a more minor way, if a ref thinks no-try and play on, and the other team make a break or something that means there's some considerable time until the next stoppage, but then he refers to the screen and the try is given - we lose that time between the "try" that was not given and the end of the next tackle. Pretty rare but that could happen. Fancy SKY not being able to reset a clock! I'm pretty sure my TV engineering mate could do that no problem.

It's pretty simple really, on our clock I just turn the dial at the back left or right to change it