Well, you couldn’t have a match of any kind without a referee, it would just be a free-for-all. So you have to have them, and on the whole in rugby league they do a pretty good job. They work extremely hard during a match, apparently running an average of about 10k per match,and more often than not they are in the right position to judge whether or not an infringement has occurred. Usually they have the respect of the players even though they may not agree with decisions made. Of course the fans hate them, but that is just in the nature of being a fan, anything which goes against your team is obviously wrong!
But I do feel that the penalty count has gone crazy this year. In the Bradford v st Helen’s match on Friday the penalty count was 19 -6 in St Helen’s favour. I’m not sure that was fair in itself, but the fact is there were 25 penalties in the game, which slows the game and makes it frustrating and irritating for players and spectators. Sometimes there have been as many as 28 penalties in a game. Obviously there are occasions when players try to milk a penalty, and occasions when there should be a penalty and it is missed, but on the whole surely it would be better for the game if the referees could be slightly less picky and the game could flow more readily.
The favourite infringement this year seems to be defenders in front of the referee when they are waiting for play to recommence after a tackle is completed. Apparently they are supposed to have both feet behind the official. We are now x rounds into the competition, and the penalty count for that transgression has not reduced at all. Surely it is time to take a more relaxed view of that particular rule? I watched a game recently (was it the challenge cup quarter final between Bradford and Hull FC) where the referee (Richard Silverwood) seemed to decide to take a hard line from the first minute on the offside rule, and play was continually stopped, with the inevitable sin-binning of a player from each side. It meant that there was no free-flowing play, and the first half was consequently the worst half of a rugby league match I have ever seen. The Guardian comments on this year’s stringent enforcement of the rules, and subsequent reduction in enjoyment of the game, in a recent article.
I do believe, however, that it is vital for the referee to ensure there is discipline on the field. For instance, I’m certainly not in favour of players talking back to the referee. Chris Thorman was sin-binned on Sunday for back chat, and Luke Robinson was sent off for using foul language, and that’s fair enough, it’s supposed to be a family sport, and whatever we think of the refs, they have to be in charge and be seen to take a firm line. But there is a difference between a firm line and being officious, and I think that referees often confuse the two. This weekend we have seen two full-on battles in rugby league matches, at Leeds v Harlequins and Wakefield v Huddersfield. I know it’s a high-octane sport and players get very pumped up, but it’s the referee’s job to ensure discipline on the field, and fights occur when players get frustrated, often with the decisions of the referee.
Refereeing must be a very difficult job, you are always in the wrong with both sets of fans, and it must take someone pretty thick-skinned to do it. They do need to be supported even if their decisions are wrong, and on the whole the six full-time refs seem to do a pretty good job of getting it right most of the time. But if only they could do their job without being quite so whistle-happy, I would be much more satisfied with their performance.
Tags: Bradford Bulls, Hull FC, St Helen's, Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants, Hull KR, Catalans Dragons, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors, Castleford Tigers, Harlequins
