An Open Letter to Tony Archer

Dear Mr Archer,I write this letter to you as a club member. The issues that I'd like you to address concern recent decisions which had a negative impact on the momentum of my club in their recent match against the Wests Tigers. It is important that I acknowledge that all clubs could highlight similar concerns. It is also important that I acknowledge that judgement calls must be made in the moment and that errors can be made. Therefore, I will restrict my questioning to three incidents where there was less "momentary pressure" that could account for acceptable human error. My please explains are as follows:1. The scrum win against the feed. Why was this pulled back? The ball entered the scrum. The scrum did not collapse. The ball exited the scrum behind the back row. Will you acknowledge this error? The referee had plenty of time to watch this as it unfolded and in my mind made the decision that something must have gone wrong rather than seeing something go wrong. This was a huge call.2. The try ruling for the Tigers when the video referee did not rule that an obstruction had taken place. This was the try that changed the game. The ball runner received the ball on the inside shoulder of the block runner. The defenders were not impeded but my understanding is that this does not matter under this rule. Are we going back to judgements made about whether defenders were impacted or not, because as a fan I am confused and becoming disillusioned about selective rule applications.3. The Watmough "knock down". This was a blatant error but I can actually accept a referee missing this, even when it's right next to them. What I'm confused about is when video referees tip to the referee. This was an instance where the replay clearly showed the arm being grabbed and that the referee had erred. It was possible for the re-start to be changed. It wasn't, yet there are occasions where it is. When do the referees change their calls for re-starts and when don't they? Again, without clarification we as fans see these type of situations as the deliberate ignoring of a fact which does not put the officials in a good light. We either go with the referee being tipped or we don't. It can't be selective.As previously stated, I am restricting my comments to the errors or situations from the most recent game that are quite confusing for fans to understand or accept.Mr Archer, referees have a difficult job and do not deserve the disrespect that they were subjected to on this last weekend. Players make errors which contribute to losses, just as referees will make acceptable errors such as missing forward passes. However, the type of decisions that I have highlighted deserve an explanation for the fans. Just as our game would not exist without referees, so too the professional careers of referees would not exist without fans such as myself who pay for club membership and pay for subscription television to watch our great game.It is not just the coaches who deserve an explanation, it is the fans.I look forward to your response.Regards,Parramatta Club Member(Name and membership number will be supplied upon request)

"Can Lincoln Fletcher play in top grade? Wouldn't mind seeing him get a run at number 6 also Lorenzo and Twidle need upgrading.. I see Ethan Sanders ( ex Parra) won the game for the Raiders "

"Agree LB, that's why in my team below I have Walker starting at Hooker, surely he can do a job for 20mins and then allow Ryley Smith to come on and play the last 60mins only requiring that one interchange for the Hooker rotation.
Walker can then…"

"I went back last night and watched his every move .
There were periods where he was gassed but to his credit he kept turning up and didn't let the team down.
As you said Darren, his technique is very good, he's also very strong and wrestles in the…"

Replies

aveel April 8, 2015 at 7:03am

If Tony Archer starts responding to every fan complaint he will have no time to actually watch the referees performances.
- sixtiesboy > aveel April 8, 2015 at 7:26am
  
  I don't expect a personal response but it raises the issue of a referee press conference, similar to the club post match conference. It doesn't have to be same day. It can be after reviews. But clubs can go through official channels to get answers about decisions. Fans hear nothing.
1ee April 8, 2015 at 7:13am

All questions that left me scratching my head! None of these calls subjective, they were a plain as black and white for people to see especially with video ref! What is the point of him if he doesn't stand up and make the calls the refs can't? And wasn't it our home game? We were our 50/50 calls? Thoes three calls were game changers.

Despite these bad calls we had to many unforced errors.
- sixtiesboy > 1ee April 8, 2015 at 7:28am
  
  So did the Tigers. They had very little and it took certain decisions to "help" them get on the board in the second half. We were awful yet still could have won with the correct decisions.
RIDER April 8, 2015 at 7:17am

Nice letter, but wont change the result now and wont stop errors from happening.

Id like someone to put a package together of Juniors tackle vs others similar or worse than have received far less or no grading. I cant believe that 4 Bulldogs have 5 offenses (attacking head, attacking legs and 3 dissent) and those all added up to the same as juniors one offence (throw/sling tackle).
- sixtiesboy > RIDER April 8, 2015 at 7:23am
  
  It screams of injustice does it not?!?
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 April 8, 2015 at 7:35am

Referees subconsciously predict the Eels will lose away from Pirtek and referee accordingly.
Is the ANZ contract is set to run out soon?
15 games away
9 at Pirtek

We should also write up an open letter to Seward and Sharp..They've done an excellent job thus far, but need to address this situation.

62.5 % away
37.5 at Pirtek. That's disgrasful. Fix the problem.
wee scotty April 8, 2015 at 8:03am

Christ some of you people are unreal you all bitch and moan about the shit deal Parra get's from the ref's and complain that something should be done about it and now when sixtiesboy is prepared to do something about it you are as negative as hell about the out come, I'm with you sixties if I can help in anyway just let me know
- aveel > wee scotty April 8, 2015 at 9:18am
  
  Yes you can help. Could you teach our idiots halves to follow Arthur's instructions to take the 2? Could you teach our dumb players who dropped the ball 3 sets in a row in the last 10 minutes to hold onto it? Could you teach Hoppa how to run faster? Could you teach Seph Paulo to um...do something positive?
  
  These things will be much more productive in helping us get the win rather than whinging to Tony Archer.
IH8Manly & IEspeciallyH8Qld April 8, 2015 at 8:10am

"Dear sixtiesboy.

Thankyou for your letter.

I see you follow Parramatta.

You'll take whatever we dish out and you'll like it.

Now be a good boy and bend over a little more. Ah yes, that's it. That's the way.

Kindest Regards,

Tony Archer"

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