If, and dare we tempt fate, when the NRL resumes on May 28, would having one referee showcase the best of the NRL to a sports-deprived audience?
Storm forward Christian Welch is doubtful.
While the mooted cost-cutting measure of reverting to one referee, as is still the standard in Internationals, would look good on a balance sheet, Welch doubts it’d look good enough to convert the great unwashed.
Otherwise known as fans of other sports who can’t find it in their hearts to let love/league in.
MORE: Roosters supremo Nick Politis slams NRL over rule changes
“I feel pretty strongly about this; I can’t understand why we’d go down to one referee,” Welch said Tuesday.
“The game is getting quicker, we’re reducing stoppages, drop-outs, scrum clocks and play-the-ball speeds. It’s becoming more demanding on our referees.”
Quick recap so far of the NRL's decision to return to one referee for the remainder of the 2020 NRL season.
Manly coach Des Hasler doesn't like it , and believes the game needs to 'stop making decisions on the run'.
A man responsible for a lot of the Project Apollo decisions and referee discussions in Graham Annesley thinks it could be a permanent fixture.
One of the game's most respected coaches in Brad Arthur also slammed the decision on Sunday afternoon, saying it will add too much confusion.
“I just think two rounds in, it’s pretty hard to change the rules now...it might just add confusion, we’re still getting used to the Captain’s Challenge,” he told Continuous Call Team .
When the NRL returns on May 28, it has an opportunity to pit itself against the might of the Belarus Premier League for sports-mad fans crying out for something…anything to watch.
“It’s a really great example for us to showcase rugby league to the world and try to convert other people,” Welch said.
“There’s a bit of a danger there in trying to bring in something that we’re not used to and haven’t been able to practise. Referees usually visit in pre-season and work through things. It’s a bit of an issue in reducing the quality of our game.”
And then there are the referees.
“Rugby league is such a grey game; high intensity and high speed game,” Welsh said.
“It’s a tough game for referees and I really feel for them. They’re human just like us and when Cameron Smith or another superstar makes an error, he’s just human. When a referee makes an error, he gets slammed.
“Personally, I’d like to see two referees maintained.”
The Storm finished up their camp in Albury on Tuesday and will resume training at AAMI Park on Thursday.
