Video Refs Taking Over : Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:17 pm  

After watching tonights game I am tending to agree with Tony Smith. The pressure seems to be on the televised games now to be the complete TV product and on reflection the decisions are seeming to be made by referee's trying to be TV Execs and not referee's. Over the past 2 nights we witnessed an Harlequins try which even the player nearly wet himself laughing when awarded. Was this a vain attempt by the video ref to knock some life into a one-sided game purely for the tv viewing public ?
Then tonights last decision can only be described as ludicrous. Tony Smith has stated “For most of the rugby league I watch there are two goal judges, two touch judges and a referee and they get it right most of the time.They create as much controversy as they fix in my opinion and it stops the momentum of the game.”
So without the video ref's this weekend and left to the onfield officials. The Quins would not have scored, Ainscough's try would have been awarded and Watt's attempt most definetely ruled out.

Re: Video Refs Taking Over : Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:53 pm  

100% common sense there pal.
Nice one.

Re: Video Refs Taking Over : Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:51 pm  

I've heard people say before that sometimes when you slow the play down enough it gives a completely false impression and I think the Watts try for Hull KR was a great example of that. Seen at normal speed it looked for all the world like he had lost control of the ball. OK, he may have brushed the side of it as it hit the ground with the edge of one finger but does that constitute full control? I don't think so!

Re: Video Refs Taking Over : Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:30 pm  

Did he get downward pressure? Probably one tiny little iota, did he have control of the ball, not a chance in hell. You were hard done by to be fair but as someone else has stated on another thread you had one from a forward pass and another 50/50 call re an obstruction. These things will probably even themselves out although it won't fell like it, got to admit its much easier saying this to fans of another side than it is saying about Wakey. What makes it an even more bitter pill to swallow is the fact it came at the end and was ultimately the difference between the sides. We had some harsh calls on Fri with Mr Alibert (who is probably the worst ref in the game at all levels) but its how you react to these things what really matters. We dropped too much ball on Friday just like your lot last night, thats what probably cost us the points, not the officials. Blaming the refs etc is the easy way out and were all guilty of it from time to time. Although we all feel like it, I'm pretty sure there isn't a hidden agenda from the top to make life as difficult as possible for the likes of you and us!

Re: Video Refs Taking Over : Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:40 pm  

yes do away with video refs.... but if we have to have them only allow replays at full speed. and the video ref to be a coach,s call and only 2 per game. lose one if your call is proved wrong.

Re: Video Refs Taking Over : Sun Feb 28, 2010 9:28 pm  

supercas wrote:

yes do away with video refs.... but if we have to have them only allow replays at full speed. and the video ref to be a coach,s call and only 2 per game. lose one if your call is proved wrong.

Its an interesting idea,abit like tennis players asking for "hawkeye" reviews on line calls

Re: Video Refs Taking Over : Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:45 pm  

The Trip wrote:

After watching tonights game I am tending to agree with Tony Smith. The pressure seems to be on the televised games now to be the complete TV product and on reflection the decisions are seeming to be made by referee's trying to be TV Execs and not referee's. Over the past 2 nights we witnessed an Harlequins try which even the player nearly wet himself laughing when awarded. Was this a vain attempt by the video ref to knock some life into a one-sided game purely for the tv viewing public ?
Then tonights last decision can only be described as ludicrous. Tony Smith has stated “For most of the rugby league I watch there are two goal judges, two touch judges and a referee and they get it right most of the time.They create as much controversy as they fix in my opinion and it stops the momentum of the game.”
So without the video ref's this weekend and left to the onfield officials. The Quins would not have scored, Ainscough's try would have been awarded and Watt's attempt most definetely ruled out.

It proves the VR works then, because both decisions were correct.

Re: Video Refs Taking Over : Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:00 am  

I look forward to the ball being knocked forward in general play and the player touching it with his pinky as it hits the ground and no knock on being awarded against him from now on !!

Re: Video Refs Taking Over : Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:56 am  

You were totally robbed even Watts walking away was shaking his head and saying no try, really feel for you. I was watching in the pub and all the kr supporters around me were laughing and slapping each others backs at robbing you of two points.

VR are just a joke at times.

Re: Video Refs Taking Over : Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:10 am  

WallTiger wrote:

I look forward to the ball being knocked forward in general play and the player touching it with his pinky as it hits the ground and no knock on being awarded against him from now on !!

Talking to someone last night this was my justification of the VR decision being incorrect. That situation, duplicated in the field of play is going to result in a knock-on being award at least 99 times out of 100. Why that suddenly becomes different in the in-goal area is a mystery.