Neutral Referees : Sat Dec 02, 2017 11:21 am
So here we are again. Can someone please explain why the RLIF persist with this policy of not appointing neutral referees for internationals? Anyone? Bowing down the the NRL aside?I don't think for a moment refs are deliberately dodgy in anyway, but unconscious bias when making split-second decisions is something you simply can't avoid. That game had plenty of examples of decisions tipping the way of Australia and not going for England, and imo it devalues their win and the tournament.
I'm not claiming we would have won with a neutral ref - our execution was poor in crucial positions - but the point is to at least remove all semblance of doubt and put both teams on a truly neutral playing field. In such a tight game, a couple of incorrect calls perhaps unconsciously influenced by a lifetime of supporting Australia in RL, RU, football, cricket, Athletics, singing Australia Fair, etc...will swing it.
A neutral referee might not be the 'best' referee in the world...but at least it's fair.
Sort it out. It taints the entire competition.