The game shouldn’t have a “I don’t know” call unless all games at all levels have the ability to review the call…
Or, SL becomes effectively a different sport than RL.

How does a ref in the championship or on a Sunday afternoon BARLA game get a decision when he calls “I don’t know”?

I'm afraid the game without cameras is a different game.
So it is reffed in a different way. I suppose lots of tries are given because "in all probability a try was scored" after consulting with the assistant refs or touch judges.
There is no perfect answer.

TBH I prefer the days of no video ref, yes you are right about shocking decisions made I have witnessed many over the years (Billy Thompson)but it was the talking point after the game. These days there is a lot more anger over decisions made by video refs because even though we can often see it he will go with the live call made by the on field ref.

You are right that there is no perfect answer but I would have at least preferred it if the video refs decision was a standalone and not driven by the on field decision. Let the video refs give is own decision.

March 13, 1983, quarter final

Warrington 4 Hull 10 (T: Phil Ford; DG: Eccles)

Attendance: 11,218

Referee Billy Thompson disallowed three tries.

That game was atrocious, crooked officiating in front of a bumper 11k crowd too.

I was right in front of one of the disallowed try’s and you are right crooked is the only word to describe it. But I would still rather do without video ref in its current format.

I had the pleasure of his company on a jolly boys day out at Elland Road for a GB test v Australia, the coach stopped to pick up a mystery guest en route at Ainsley Top on the M62, and it was him.

He was the half time speaker and was full of it on the journey. From memory, and I'm sure this won't come as a surprise he was quite unapologetic about his Yorkshire bias and his refereeing in general, a case of decisions being made based on meritocracy as he saw fit, with transgressions being let go if the victim was asking for it.

The good old days

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... es-9767295

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... es-9767295

Happy to see the clampdown on the play acting and attempts to get penalties

Absolutely. It was getting silly & needed action. 2 minutes missing game time should do the trick.

I don't understand the drop out thing.

There will be more teams trying to kick short drop outs (i.e just over 10m line). If it fails to reach the ten metre line all that happens is that the kicking team lose the ball rather than a penalty.

As was the case in NRL last year. It reduces the value of a good short kicking game significantly. It might increase Toby King's value immensely.

Not watched the NRL but I'd guess drop outs will suddenly become a contest with lots of collisions. Did that happen?

I'd say something like 60% of drop outs became short drop outs. Some very high with no angle but more out on either side to the centre area. Of those, I reckon about half were retained by the defending team. About 10% probably resulted in the tap to the attacking team.

Thank you. That is quite a change to the game.
In a sport that is trying hard to reduce injury I think this might cause collisions as balls in the air with lots of players attacking the ball is bound to cause the odd problem.

All I know about short kick-offs is it cost Brisbane a grand final win. Commanding lead and 3 times went with short drop out which Penrith scored from. At the time I was perplexed as to why they didn’t just hoof it up the field. Fine if you are chasing points and want to get the ball back but not when you have a good lead.

There doesn't seem to be much relationship between the score and whether they go long or short. More that some coaches/teams just seem to like it. And some players go short pretty much all the time.

I haven't noticed that many big collisions, probably less than a forward charging it back in off a long drop out.

Very interesting. I suppose I always watch out for players getting battered from high kicks. In this case the defenders all start from just over 10 yards away. The kickers will be practising their short drop out skills from tomorrow morning & ought to be good at it by the start of the season. Those receiving the kicks will be working on subtle obstructions & looking forward to the relatively new fun of catching a high ball under pressure. Full backs & wingers have traditionally had the sole pleasure but soon the joy of catching a high ball with opposition approaching will be enjoyed by all.

The other rule tweaked regarding players being offside at kicks not being pinged unless they interfere with play. How many try’s did we see chalked off even when the player within 10 had no effect on the outcome. Glad to see common sense prevailed at last.

I didn't get it either as it is just a penalty kick i.e. kick to touch wasn't it, or a tap restart on the 10m line, it has now changed to a PTB on the 10m line, where is the difference in it

Also cost Salford the points at Wigan when Sneyd went short and Wardle went in. I think there's a time and a place perhaps not when you are up with 5 minutes to go?

Agree but what do we know

The Short Drop Out has obviously become a bit of a thing to do in Oz because of the new law. You would think it would catch on here too.

Probably, I mean Leeds were doing it for a short time till they saw it was not working for them and the ironic cheer from their fans when they went long for first time. But like Uncle Rico said there is a time and place for it.