I think that one of the key aspects of this discussion is the hypocrisy and inconsistency in which the commentators continually bitch about slow motion adjudications. If that is what they want (to have the onfield referees fearlessly make their decisions) then they must completely eliminate any slow motion replays and frame-by-frame analysis that is used to crucify the referees in the public space. To do otherwise is unfair to the point of hypocrisy.
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I know it’s easy to blame the referees, but ultimately they need to officiate within the confines of the technology and guidance they are given by those who manage it, which in the NRL is Graham Annesley, Andrew Abdo and Peter V’Landys.
…and to me the guidance in particular is confusing and contradictory. How do you go from 18 sin bins in week 8 to just 6 in week 9, with very little changing as far as actions on the field.
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I would like to see the results of a secret poll from referees.
What is you biggest influence pre-game?
NRL Hierarchy
Media
Marketing
Peers
General knowledge of individuals in the game
Imagine if a secret poll revealed “Influenced by NRL Hierarchy” from 90% of refs 
I recognise that some ‘instructions from above’ on specific areas of concern eg high contact/head knocks can create some confusion on people not properly briefed, but that doesn’t explain why the refs can’t see knock-ons & forward passes, make different/inconsistent rulings with the guess agains & see things that didn’t happen.
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I feel that is a more ongoing issue tht happens week in and week out.
I was more refering to bizzare enforcement of particular rules, that have no rhyme or reason. I feel those decisions are coming from up top.
I’m at a loss to explain some of the decisions in the last couple of weeks. I’ve noticed one in particular and Bellyache has every right to explode. Against us, Stefano was penalised on our line for an incorrect play the ball, yes he did just roll it between his legs. Then in our game against the dogs, we had them on the ropes physically, well behind on the scoreboard, and in the 2 sets of 6 they rolled the ball every tackle, Kikau was a horrible play the ball, he stepped over it…..NOTHING DONE…..if fact I think they got another 6 again through that period. Then again Saturday, the Storm were penalised for an incorrect play the ball. Since round 1 I reckon i’ve seen at least 100 play the balls just rolled through the legs - what the hell is going on???
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Roll the ball seems to happen every second tackle. But the refs pick and choose when they enforce it.
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That is the problem with today’s adjudicating, these 6 again are essentially penalties years gone by, but now depending on the state of the game, the refs have the ability to influence momentum through bullshit. I agree with Gallen, you would NEVER see 35 penalties in a game, so why are we seeing this many “indiscretions” in today’s game?
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There is always a lot more latitude before a penalty. Also, they can be contested. For restarts the ref can make up anything and the team has no recourse. I have seen one team given a restart for opposition staying in the tackle for a microsecond, while that same team can lay in the tackle for an eternity with no punishment.
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Another penalty that seems to have fallen out of favour is the tackled player walking off the mark, and/or interfering with the marker.
These days no penalty to the defending team - instead the ref walks the player back to replay, or in event of interference with the marker 9 times out of 10 will be a six again to the attacking team
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Another example of the ref not having a clue/feel on the game was a decision made by Gerard Sutton in the Manly/NQ game.
Early in the game, Manly shifted the ball left & Turbo came into the line 3 in. The cows defender read the play and came out of the line and absolutely (legally) smashed him ball and all into the ground. If ever a dominant tackle was made it was this one, and the defender earned the right to extend the contact a little. NO, Sutton the DH gave a 6/guess again call and the advantage gained by the dominant tackle was not only lost but the wrong side was rewarded.
When a ref with so many years of NRL experience comes up with that call, it just shows that the referees have no clue.
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The officiating reached a new low last night, with the 2 touch judges in the knights/broncs game waving no goal for the conversion attempt by Walsh from right in front which, while a pretty pathetic kick, it clearly went thru the posts & the two ‘bengal lancers’, as Rex Mossop used to call them, embarrassing themselves and the game with their waving of no goal.
I can’t believe I am typing this but, thank god we have the bunker, who were able to overrule the 2 dopes. If they can’t see a ball passing between the posts from a standing position directly in front of the kick, they need to pass the flags to the nearest two spectators & retire immediately.
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In the featerweenies v tiggers game (one of the worst i’ve ever seen) there was a no try…the player was ready to play the ball…everyone was ready knowing it wasn’t a try but the bunker had repeated replays, felt like 10 minutes to decide what all the players and ref already knew…Soooo frustrating - BUT then there was an attempted kick that hit Luai first before moses kicked it and they scored off it…100% knock on and THIS is what the bunker is for, the obvious howler…not the minute one finger on the ball with a blade of grass attached to it.
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Unfortunately the NRL would prefer to use the bunker to find reasons not to give certain teams tries (even when obvious tries to everyone else) and reasons to give tries to other teams.
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In fairness, the reason Butler (tippy toes) doesn’t ref anymore is because he was no good at it, instead they put him in the video box…
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This makes sense. NRL expects more mistakes from the bunker. 
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On the subject of the bunker and replays, I am of the opinion that double movement calls should only be reviewed at full speed (to judge momentum) rather than frame by frame
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