The NRL is planning a radical move that could see up to 10 officials controlling games as early as round one of the 2015 season.
The move will be tested for the first time at the annual Charity Shield clash between South Sydney and St George Illawarra on Saturday, where two referees will be joined by four sideline officials, two video referees and the return of two in-goal touch judges.
If successful, the extra officials could be in use from round one, according to referees' boss Tony Archer.
"Now we've moved to a live decision, we want the referee to make a more informed and accurate live decision": NRL Referees boss Tony Archer. Photo: Getty Images
"At this stage we're only looking at it as an experiment," Archer said. "We have to see what is the best system. For us, it's about looking to be the most accurate decision-makers we can be and to get as many decisions right.
"I don't know yet [if it will be in place for round one]. I need to see whether it's efficient and whether it adds to our decision-making. Without trialling it, we aren't going to know. We have to asses its benefits post-game."
Two touch judges on either side of the field will help the main referee mark the 10 metres, while the other two will rule on forward passes. The pocket referee will continue to focus on the ruck and potential block plays, while the in-goal touch judges will assist with try-scoring decisions.
In-goal touch judges have not been used since the NRL was formed in 1998.
Archer said the in-goal touch judges would help improve the accuracy of the on-field referees' decisions, following the move for them to indicate if they believe a try has been scored before sending the decision to the video referee.
"Now we've moved to a live decision, we want the referee to make a more informed and accurate live decision," Archer said.
"It may speed up the decision [process]. It certainly will have a more accurate live decision to assist the video referee. The video referee is a review process and sufficiency test for that video referee to overturn or confirm the live decision."
The NRL will experiment further throughout the trial period. The All-Stars match on February 13 on the Gold Coast will see the in-goal touch judges remain, but there will be a return to two sideline officials.
Other trials will involve four touch judges but no in-goal touch judges, as Archer searches for the best system.
While the in-goal touch judges will not be wired for communication with referees Adam Devich and Dave Munro on Saturday night, all other officials have a direct line of communication to the men in the middle. Archer is confident the extra voices will not create confusion.
"We've worked really hard and have done trialling on this," Archer said. "The specific communication will be fed to the referee. There are more people with more voices, but there are specific roles for each."
The extra referees would make the NRL the most heavily officiated team sport in the world. Should they be introduced this season, 80 positions would need to be filled each round.
Archer said he had enough officials to cater for the increased involvement.
"All the full-time officials have a dual role, so sometimes you'll see certain referees act as a video referee and other referees are touch judges," Archer said. "So we could bring it in."
Meanwhile, ruck speed is expected to quicken after Archer confirmed defenders would have to release the tackled player once a referee calls held.
"Firstly, you weren't allowed to peel [off] last season," Archer said. "This is about post-tackle. When the tackle is complete, what we're asking for the defenders to do is release the player in possession simultaneously, and this allows the play-the-ball process to begin."
NRL officials' roles
Senior referee: Overall control of the match. Will mark the 10 metres and be the dominant referee.
Pocket referee: Focus on the ruck. Takes on extra importance with new rule. Will also monitor block players.
Two sideline officials: Touch judges on each side of the field will mark the 10 metres to assist the senior referee.
Two sideline officials: Touch judges on each side of the field will help monitor forward passes.
Two in-goal touch judges: Standing at each end of the dead-ball line, they will assist with try-scoring decisions.
I took a photo at a Trial run the refs did on the weekend:
Replies
Great idea, even if it fails, it is worth a try. Anything is worth a try after last year!
I don't agree with this. The refs should just field a run on side complete with interchanges. Just like the NFL, the game has to stopped for the refs to hold a committee.
I'd give shorter odds to this becoming a mess than it being a success.
Either 1 ref, 2 touchies and video for in goal only or 1 ref, 2 touchies and 2 in goal judges.
They need to be careful about building a structure to compensate for lack of ability - than one pommy ref that did the test a while ago was great - that game flowed nicely and it didn't need a completely new structure with a team of refs. If the engine is shot, doesn't matter what car body you put it into, it's not going to run well.
http://bit.ly/1xwB3tl