To those bemoaning the standard of officiating in this hemisphere, catch a look at the NRL playoff game between the Sea Eagles and the Cowboys, where Thurston's boys were repeatedly mugged.

The VR failed to spot the clearest knock on in the history of rugby league, and gave a BOTD "try". A decision that trumps nearly all our own VR blunders.

And to show that two referees is no better than one, the on-field platoon of officials failed to spot a player fumble and ground a ball inside his own on-goal, and ruled play on. When an apoplectic Thurston queried the decision, the lame "explanation" was that they didn't think the player "intended to" ground the ball!



Poor old Johnathan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Anyone of the opinion that two refs would make correct decisions more often than one need only imagine the consequences of cloning Thierry Alibert.

2 video refs are to be sacked in the NRL. I think it relates to the above incidents.

I guess they will be on the plane here for next season as they will fit in well with our high standard officials.

Not to worry, they're wheeling out Russell Smith in the booth this weekend. What could possibly go wrong

To be fair, i think the NRL referees are worse than ours. Don't get me wrong, ours can have stinkers, but some of the decisions in the NRL are outrageous, particularly the video refereeing ones (Where there is no excuse as you get to look at it in slow motion)

Someone's dealing you a losing card.

‘Replay’ Russell cannot be any worse that the VR at the Manly game.

As much as I love watching NRL matches, some of the VR decisions infuriate me.

Regarding the incidents, he gave the first one with the Benefit of Doubt moniker, however, it was either a double movement, or not, where’s the Benefit of Doubt, other than he’s doubting his own decision.

The second one was a clear knock on, I’ve not seen two worse decisions since SOO game one.

Didn't realise 'Malcolm' was now an NRL video ref.

Well maybe not worse, but just as bad though.

At least it didn’t affect the outcome, Manly did that on their own.

Some of their referees have a bizarre interpretation of benefit of the doubt. In todays game you can freeze on your tv screen to show that Slater has lost all contact with the ball for a split second.

On field referees will make wrong decisions just as players will make wrong decisions in attack and defence, its part of the game. I hate the way sky sports and eddie and stevo constantly examine 50/50 calls in an attempt to provide controversy. I rate the Aussie commentaries as they concentrate on the rugby being played but the last two weeks they have been right to get stuck into the video refs.

There is no excuse for poor decision making from the video ref, and why they need two people for the job someone explain that idea??

Based on last night, they can't even tell whether a slow moving ball has hit the dead ball line...