refs aside where do we go from here?

[Rooster_6]

****!

We must be desperate for another second rower. It really doesn't say much for Maubs.

I don't know why we didn't go after Tariq Sims.

Anyway we dodged a massive bullet here.

Sims is more of a lock these days, lost a lot of mobility after his back to back leg breaks. Struggles on the edges.

[milanja]

Has Taumalolo signed an extension with the cows? I enjoy watching him play.

[Guest]

Sims is more of a lock these days, lost a lot of mobility after his back to back leg breaks. Struggles on the edges.

I would of agreed at the start of the year but think he has looked better recently on the edges. Got some speed and confidence back.

Still we could of rotated him with Guerra and Cordner.

Anyway us trying to sign Proctor and others, what does that say about Maubs being a starter?

[Johnny Tobin]

There is no way we were seriously after Beau Scott.

[chook 56]

Apologies if this has been posted already.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1227014674526

THE NRL’s video referees department perfected the art of failing upwards, appointing Steve Clark to adjudicate the season’s biggest game after his Tim Lafai stuff-up last weekend.

Under pressure to remain on duty after he and former Tigers utility Ben Galea inexplicably overturned the on-field referral and ruled Lafai had lost control of the ball, Clark was instead rewarded with the plum gig at Friday night’s top-of-the-table blockbuster between Souths and Manly at the SCG.


Clark’s elevation comes after his boss, Tony Archer, this week conceded the Lafai call was wrong. It also comes after another member of staff, a technician, stormed out of the video referees box and was overheard loudly criticising Clark in a common area lounge on level three of ANZ Stadium.


A witness in the lounge told The Daily Telegraph the technician was yelling into a telephone at halftime, just 10 minutes after the Lafai decision.

“He was wearing an NRL shirt and he was absolutely filthy,” the witness said. “He was having a very animated conversation on the telephone at halftime, saying ‘I can’t believe Clarky made that call. I can’t go back in there.’”

On Tuesday the NRL confirmed it was looking into the incident, but said the technician involved was a contractor.

Clark has also been rostered on for another free-to-air fixture: Sunday’s Dragons-Panthers clash at WIN Stadium. On the same afternoon, Galea will be in Auckland for the Warriors and Sharks showdown.

The NRL has confirmed that if there was any disagreement between the ex-player and Clark, the casting vote would have gone to Galea.


Archer on Tuesday night revealed only two video referees have been dropped this season, and that he was trying to operate with a smaller pool to achieve more consistency.

“I have said that I don’t believe there was sufficient evidence to overturn the Lafai decision,” Archer said.

“But Steven Clark remains one of our most experienced referees and is the right person for such an important game. He was in the video referees box the following night for the Dragons v Roosters match and I was very comfortable with his performance.”

Furious over the Lafai call, Bulldogs officials were further exasperated when they learned of Clark’s fortunes. Their confusion was compounded when Clark awarded Rooster Aidan Guerra a try on Saturday, despite appearing to have less control of the ball than Lafai.


Canterbury coach Des Hasler spoke with Archer over the weekend, and has been attempting to lock down a face-to-face meeting before the team travels to Brisbane tomorrow.

But Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle wants the debacle to trigger more change, and has been speaking to her predecessor — NRL football boss Todd Greenberg — about fast-tracking a “bunker” system for next season.

Castle is adamant that every match of the year should be overseen by the same video referee to achieve consistency. With two video referees needed for each match at present, there are concerns the NRL doesn’t have enough trained bodies to enforce changes when mistakes are made.

The “bunker” proposal has been talked about for years, but a concept involving just one person adjudicating every game has never been raised.

It is yet to be formally discussed at a CEOs conference, but Greenberg is *believed to be receptive to Castle’s idea.

[Tommy Smith]

Given we have games running concurrently on Fridays and Sundays, that would be quite the effort to have one person/team adjudicate for every game.

[rwbfl]

How in the world are they going to be able to have one video referee looking over every match all season? There would have to be a complete alteration in scheduling, and with the new TV deal currently in place I'm not sure if that would be an option at the moment?

[milanja]

Given we have games running concurrently on Fridays and Sundays, that would be quite the effort to have one person/team adjudicate for every game.

Haha, these people get dumber and dumber, maybe live video feed to the vidiot from the brisbane fri night game to the sydney one.

[theGman]

lol really? It was Beau Scott?

Thank **** we dodged that bullet.

Really?

Were you not in awe of his performances in Origin closing down Inglis and co. So exhausted after his gallant effort in Origin 2 he had to be monitored throughout the night whilst his team mates partied hard.

A couple of weeks ago the Knights beat us on the back of a very inspired performance from Scott. His toughness and niggle plus their half backs blinder sealed the win.

[Tommy Smith]

I thought he was somewhat overrated in Origin. He was directly responsible for about 3 linebreaks in game 1.

He's a tough player. But I'd rather someone like Napa shift to the backrow with Meehan/Evans coming onto the bench.

[The Axe]

Really?

Were you not in awe of his performances in Origin closing down Inglis and co. So exhausted after his gallant effort in Origin 2 he had to be monitored throughout the night whilst his team mates partied hard.

A couple of weeks ago the Knights beat us on the back of a very inspired performance from Scott. His toughness and niggle plus their half backs blinder sealed the win.

Very much agree. I closely watched Beau Scott, particularly in game 3. Outstanding

[Johnny.]

A couple of weeks ago the Knights beat us on the back of a very inspired performance from Scott. His toughness and niggle plus their half backs blinder sealed the win.

I'd say the Refs helped a hell of a lot too.

[Johnny Tobin]

I thought he was somewhat overrated in Origin. He was directly responsible for about 3 linebreaks in game 1.

He's a tough player. But I'd rather someone like Napa shift to the backrow with Meehan/Evans coming onto the bench.

Napa is shocking in the back row.

[Guest]

Napa is shocking in the back row.

Not quick enough.

I'm still interested to see if we look for another back rower to replace SBW.

IMO we have some top young forwards but they are all props.

[Guest]

Not quick enough.

I'm still interested to see if we look for another back rower to replace SBW.

IMO we have some top young forwards but they are all props.

What happened to Langi - has he not developed as we expected?

Who'd have ever thought our problem would be a lack of back rowers