It brings up a good point this issue, maybe the ref should continue to discuss the try/no try during the replays and liaise with the Vr to come to a better decision.

Isn't that how RU works, or have I got that completely wrong? Seen their lot send a try up to the VR after looking at the screen while the conversion is being lined up which seems weird.

So, this bunker system in the NRL: working pretty well, isn't it? Seems to have largely (can never be entirely) addressed the issue of consistency, and decisions seem logical and reasonably swift.

I never understood the need to transport personnel around to act as VR in the first instance.

With the proper kit installed they could effectively interact with one another and make exactly the same decisions whilst each VR official is sat in their own home.

Bunker...ffs, it's a studio somewhere or OB portakabin if you have to, gimmicky nonsense.



Electing to have three officials adjudicating to make the decision is good and should in theory reduce errors.

However still feel that it should be 'is it a try, yes or no', not have the weight of the on field official with often the worst view (otherwise why send it for review) being in play with "I've got a try/no try".

By definition you are not sure and have niether and that weight of not being sure and not having the best view/recalling what happened counts for a lot when it shouldn't.

Thaler dropped this week according to love rugby league.

That is a scandal if true. It is Thierry Alibert (aka Teary Halibut) who deserves to be dropped. Benjamin Thaler has been defending the integrity of the game.

Broke the rules, got punished.



Just as a player or coach would. Correct decision - agree or disagree with the video ref you can't break protocol and have an argument with him in the middle of a game.



Although Alibert should have been fired years ago.

Who would be a referee.

If i was Thaler, why would i send anything to the VR? VR makes a clusterfsk of it and you get blamed by the players, fans and coaches. Empathise with a players frustration and you're publicly dropped.



You would think the refs coaches would understand that Thaler standing there defending those decisions would have meant he lost all respect of the players and only added to their frustration and made the game much harder to referee, you would think they understand that showing empathy with players would keep the game under control.



Then you remember Steve Ganson is coaching the referee's and you remember that respect of players and controlling a game were completely alien to him as a referee, and Ganson probably saw it as Thaler failing to take the opportunity to throw his weight around.



Added to that you have Cas fans cheering and supporting his demotion despite those decisions being a 12 point swing in their favour. Heaven knows how they would have reacted if the roles were reversed.

Nope, he's refereeing a big game for a change (Bulls v Sheffield)

What's it matter anyway? He does this match this week then back to superleague next week, and hey presto all is forgotten about.

It should be forgotten about (what he did), my problem is with Alibert's lack of understanding of the game. I'm fine with what Thaler did whether he was really allowed to do that or not. At least he tried to get the right decision made.

Watching last week's game it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Alibert has something against Catalans. Of course the other explanation, equally plausible, is that he is just incompetent.



Either way Catalans should have won by a 12 point bigger margin had there been a quality video referee on hand.