The role of being a match official in any sport is mostly a thankless task. When weighed on the “fair go” scales, the balance of public appreciation tips heavily towards “abused” rather than “valued”.
These whistle-blowing athletes must truly love their chosen sport, because they’ll never be the ones chased for autographs or blessed with rich third party agreements.
Without referees or umpires, competitive sport does not exist. But don’t expect them to be cheered too often.
That doesn’t mean that refs don’t deserve to be jeered from time to time. Momentum in rugby league can be turned by mistakes – mostly by players but sometimes, unfortunately, by match officials. Nobody wants to hear it said, but it’s a fact of sports life that calls can determine results.
And let’s get fair dinkum, this 2025 NRL season has delivered an endless stream of head scratching refereeing decisions. From penalties that barely impact the results, through to momentum changing or match determining calls, it often feels like the bloke in the middle, or in the bunker, is the only one (possibly Annesley will have their back) that sees a particular decision as correct.
As a fan, my job is to “boo” the refs when the penalties don’t come my team’s way. And I’ll extend my opinions to the “flag boys” too. If you hear a “wake up flag boy!” echoing around CommBank Stadium it’s likely to be me pissed off with something that the touch judges have missed.
Seriously, where would rugby league be without advice to the refs from the stands, or the hills, to “get em onside”, “send him off” or “they’ve been doing it all day”.
It’s a universal right for fans to shout it and for refs to hear it.
So, all you whistle blowers, the losses of my team aren’t entirely your fault, but damn it – “Booooooooo!”
Where is this leading?
In their weekly match preparations, all coaches provide their players with a tip sheet about their opposition. Along with an accompanying video, it reminds the team about what their opponents are likely to throw at them, in addition to highlighting weaknesses that can be exploited.
I have often imagined that a similar tip sheet is distributed to referees. It would remind the officials of how matches are to be controlled in the NRL.
Remember, this is not factual. All referees do their job to the best of their ability, with very little praise.
But when certain players get penalised for offences that are allowed to fly for others, I can’t help but wonder whether a tip sheet does exist for each team.
This imagined Tip Sheet is a bit more generic. However, it might just bring a wry smile as you read it.
Referees’ Tip Sheet – Top 10 Reminders
1. The set-restart rule is God’s (PVL’s) gift to referees. It can be awarded without justification or consistency. Consider it the modern day equivalent to the old scrum penalty. It’s a thing of beauty as it cannot be challenged. Don’t worry about the countless instances where repetition of the “offence” later in the game will escape scrutiny.
2. (Insert cellar dweller team name) is not successful. They are poorly disciplined and will break rules because this is the only way that they can win. Sin bin or penalise freely. Now refer to tip 3.
3. Not awarding penalties or set re-starts to a team placed low on the ladder is just as effective as penalising them.
4. (Insert table-topping team name) is successful and well coached. They might push the limits but their coach is very good at keeping their players within the rules. Repeated warnings without consequence will suffice when they face (insert lower ladder team).
5. A team judged to be perfect one week, can be found to be poorly disciplined the next. Consistency is not expected. This tip is useful for when two top of the table teams face off.
6. If (insert star player from top of the table team) wishes to question your decision, please hear him out, even if he’s not the captain. It is now imperative to read tip 7
7. If (insert name of captain of lowly ranked team) questions your decision, dismiss his approach with disdain and allow a quick tap to the opposition. That will keep him in his place. If it’s an official captain’s challenge, the bunker will do what needs to be done.
8. There are opportunities to even up a penalty or set re-start count with minimal impact. A penalty or set re-start on the first or second tackle is ideal. Similarly, repeated calls with a few seconds left in the half or when the game is beyond reach, can help the stats.
9. We have no clue about the obstruction rule. There’s a chocolate wheel in the bunker that we use for decisions.
10. Do not expect any advice about the tackled in the air rule. We stuffed up and now you’re on your own.
Eels forever!
Sixties
The 6 Again rule is the worst rule in the game. As you say, just indiscriminately and inconsistently applied and because of the position on the field – it changes games.
The roll ball rule is fine, but weither enforce it or don’t. Picking out 1 roll ball in a weekend with 2,000 play the balls is crazy.
As for the notion of lower teams not getting the rub of the green. I know that is a popular narrative – one that Penrith’s ruck speed with the ball and opponents ruck speed would seem to support. But i have watched enough Tigers games and seen them kick enough penalty goals in tight games to be able to say, bad terams get calls too.
It’s all a bit tongue in cheek BA, with maybe a hint of pointing a finger or two.
I know… 🙂 As was my comment.
… Except for the 6 Again rule – Just awful
We agree!
The refs have been poor Sixties since T Archer was doing the job; i recall many games at Parra when they would not look at the teams inside the 10 m / ruck etc. not to mention some calls in the 09 GF.
The rules committee / end of season reviews where rules are changed etc have all been pathetic; as they allow coaches to make decisions which then impact rules overall.
I used to watch most of the games but have not done this for a while now….hence the game has detracted and we see some referees scared to make a decision.
I think the ref’s are poor, but they’re in no way biased towards any teams, or anyone due to ladder position.
Fans of any particular club like us notice these controversial calls more as we naturally take that emotional hit when it happens to us, or whomever’s team it happens to, and those lower down the ladder feel it more due to being more emotionally charged after losses
Look at the call against the panthers and the feild goal attempt. Look at trent loereo not being square at marker aswell
Trust me, no teams receive more favourable calls than other teams.
The good teams receive more penalties as the team with ball in hand usually do. And they control the ball better thus having a greater share. They also have better attack thus putting pressure on the defenders and markers gaining more advantage
The Eels need to cut out the dumb errors before we can start picking on referees. 17 errors means you’ll lose in any case
Chiefy, you are too generous to the refs. There is no doubt about the Eels dumb errors and the need to look in the mirror. Let’s leave that out because it wasn’t my point in this post.
But if you don’t think that there is a subconscious bias against lower ladder teams, or that refs don’t “manage” certain players differently to others, then it might be a bit naive. Maybe you can explain things like out of the blue rolled ball calls when it happens all game, or tackled in the air calls sometimes going under the microscope to find the slightest change from competing for the ball to making a tackle, whilst at other times ignoring blatant tackles in the air.
This post is mostly meant to be tongue in cheek, and I went to great lengths to say what a thankless task officiating is but it has been poor this season right across the NRL.
Sixties maybe that is why PVL is looking for a new GM of football.
Assuming that this rumour is true. It means either Abdo is being relieved of this duty or he is leaving the NRL altogether.
Die hard NRL fan for 40 years and generally watch every game unless I was out for something. The rule interpretations in some of this years games particularly Parramatta have turned me off completely and I now only watch Parramatta games at the game and sometimes on silent at home.
I generally loved the semifinals/grandfinals regardless of whether my team made it. And quite often I would go to a neutral game. I’m not so interested this year based on the six again rule , general refereeing, home game semifinals which are a joke and a nighttime grand final which is the “biggest joke of all”.
Sometimes it feels like Trump or Putin is running the game.
Milo with talk of Abdo parting ways with the NRL I think that you will see a change in how the referees are graded.
My understanding , from a good source, is the person currently selecting referees is Abdo. Not Annesley.
Annesley should have nothing to do with the running of the game. He failed in his first stint with the NRL. He was an epic fail as the Titans CEO and he had zero influence as a politician. Since returning to the NRL the rules have been all over the shop, and i feel sorry for the referees as they don’t know if they are Arthur or Martha. The worst referee – in terms of consistency – is probably Klein (both in the bunker and on the field) and the other refs watch him constantly get rewarded. I watched the Dolphins v Broncs and i liked the refereeing by Wyatt Raymond. I don’t mind Kennedy either – his style is to let the players play, but you can see when he is penalising things because he has been told to.
Whether it is Annesley not having the balls to stand up to PVL or PVL just infusing himself in the onfield play – which is not his role – the big issue is with the rules. And that falls on Annesley and co.
BA I am not trying to promote Anessley. I am trying to point out the shortcomings of Abdo.
I once had a boss whose favourite saying was leave the funny stuff to the funny guys.
What I would say to Abdo and PVL, leave the football decisions to the football people. On that note in particular I understand that PVL is looking for a GM of football. This would be a new position.
John, I’d have more confidence if Bill Harrigan was there tbh.
Abdo is another political appt and puppet. Bill was Hollywood and arrogant but was one of the best I saw during that era / ARL / NRL etc.
Look back when the rules started to be tinkered with…it’s depressing.
Rules get changed each year and why? You’d be better off with the players doing an honesty type system with video challenges being allowed.
When was the season when they allowed the forwards to take control and Parra had trained all pre season under different interpretations?
Lottery mate
I agree with what you say about Harrigan. Notwithstanding his attempts to win the Oscar he was probably one of the best.
There are two schools of thought on letting the game run. Firstly it provides a more open game with free flowing plays.
On the other side it allows teams, looking at Panthers and Storm, to lay all over the tackled player and run interference on the high ball.
I just want to see them referee in accordance with the rules.
Although I still haven’t forgiven Bill for disallowing the Hayne try in SOO for allegedly putting his foot into touch.
I want to see at least one rule rolled back Milo. The tackle in the air rule is absurd. Imagine not being able to defend your line because the attacker makes the Choi pace to leave the ground.
Quick question to college of knowledge, is “a flop” still a penalty, and if so why aren’t panthers in particular ever picked up for, invariably the third man in just flops and shows age play down. Answers/ opinions appreciated
If i could have a $1 for every time Yeo is last man in on the tackle and somehow last one to get off the tackled player – …. well it would go along way to covering all my lost bets for the season.
#GambleResponsibly
🤣🤣🤣
BA just look how often Penrith markers are square…..and the ruck!
It’s like a politicians promise…it doesn’t happen.
The third person flop is more obvious than the majority of 6 Agains and adds probably 1-2 seconds towards slower play the ball speeds. My only concern in elevating it to officiating action is that we’ll get another puzzling area of inconsistency.