SHAKE UP IN THE REFEREES RANKS

[Elderslie_Tiger]

The NRL has removed referees boss Bernard Sutton from all match-official appointments this year to shut down claims of nepotism that have split the ranks in recent years.

In a major shake-up as a result of the McCurry Review into the referees department at the end of last season, an independent seven-man panel headed by former players Jason King and David Fairleigh have been put in charge of all appointments.

It stops any suggestions that Bernard Sutton could favour his brothers Gerard and

Brothers Gerard (left) Bernard, and Chris Sutton.

There was a huge outcry in 2018 when Chris Sutton was appointed standby touch judge for the grand final ahead of officials who had been running the line all year.

Sutton will remain as refs boss but have no say in the appointments.

NRL Head of Football Graham Annesley said the new panel would free up more time for Sutton to focus on high performance and remove any perceived issues surrounding the transparency of refereeing appointments.







“Bernard Sutton has assisted with the creation of this new panel,’’ Annesley said.

“This is a strong panel with representatives from all facets of the game. We now have former players, former referees, bunker review officials and a representative from NRL football management making our refereeing appointments.

“There will be greater rigour around the selection of our referees, more transparency and we expect stronger on-field performances because Bernard Sutton will be able to devote more time to coaching and

Jason King will chair the appointment panel.David Fairleigh will be part off





Bernard Sutton has previously said perceptions of nepotism towards brothers Gerard and Chris “doesn’t faze me at all”.

“I’ve already dropped Chris,” Sutton said.

“I’ve actually demoted a number of referees. I deal with my brothers in exactly the same fashion.

“It really doesn’t worry me. I’m really confident in the criteria we use to select our referees.”

The panel will make their appointments for the first round of the competition today.

REFEREE APPOINTMENT PANEL

Chair - Jason King (General Manager Elite Competitions, former NRL player)

David Fairleigh (Officiating Coach, former NRL player)

David Boyle (Officiating Coach, former NRL player)

Russell Smith (Officiating Coach, former international referee)

Steve Chiddy (Bunker Senior Review Official, former touch judge)

Jared Maxwell (Bunker manager, former referee)

Gavin Reynolds (Officiating Operations Manager, former

 

[twentyforty]

Nepotism in the referees ranks? Who would have thought? Lol

 

[jadtiger]

I may be reading far to much into it but maybe V"Landys is starting to shake the rotten apples from the tree

 

[Tiger_Steve]

I may be reading far to much into it but maybe V"Landys is starting to shake the rotten apples from the tree

God I hope so. Greenberg and Sutton - peas in a pod

 

[Fraze23]

A good decision. I hope V'landys can clean the admin of the game up. Next thing is stopping players from being selected as the video ref for teams they used to play for. I'm sure nothing untoward happens, but I can't help but feel a little uncomfortable when we're playing the Bulldogs and Luke Patten is in the bunker. Same with Galea and our games. This should just be common sense, but it happens quite frequently.

 

[Cairnstigers]

Would like to see Henry Peranara demoted

 

[happy_tiger]

when we realize giving brown paper bags to refs is far easier than giving brown paper bags to players we will be a danger in this comp

 

[twentyforty]

A good decision. I hope V'landys can clean the admin of the game up. Next thing is stopping players from being selected as the video ref for teams they used to play for. I'm sure nothing untoward happens, but I can't help but feel a little uncomfortable when we're playing the Bulldogs and Luke Patten is in the bunker. Same with Galea and our games. This should just be common sense, but it happens quite frequently.

Agree 100%. It may weigh heavily on the mind of the vr if his old team is subject to his call. Sometimes the bias can produce a negative result for fear of showing bias toward his old team? Who would know? The important thing as you’ve quite rightly pointed out is that we shouldn’t put the vr in that position.

 

[OzLuke]

A good decision. I hope V'landys can clean the admin of the game up. Next thing is stopping players from being selected as the video ref for teams they used to play for. I'm sure nothing untoward happens, but I can't help but feel a little uncomfortable when we're playing the Bulldogs and Luke Patten is in the bunker. Same with Galea and our games. This should just be common sense, but it happens quite frequently.


Agree 100%. It may weigh heavily on the mind of the vr if his old team is subject to his call. Sometimes the bias can produce a negative result for fear of showing bias toward his old team? Who would know? The important thing as you’ve quite rightly pointed out is that we shouldn’t put the vr in that position.

It leaves an awkward feeling that's for sure.....

same could be said for perenara and reffing the warriors, storm, dragons and eels???

 

[twentyforty]

A good decision. I hope V'landys can clean the admin of the game up. Next thing is stopping players from being selected as the video ref for teams they used to play for. I'm sure nothing untoward happens, but I can't help but feel a little uncomfortable when we're playing the Bulldogs and Luke Patten is in the bunker. Same with Galea and our games. This should just be common sense, but it happens quite frequently.


Agree 100%. It may weigh heavily on the mind of the vr if his old team is subject to his call. Sometimes the bias can produce a negative result for fear of showing bias toward his old team? Who would know? The important thing as you’ve quite rightly pointed out is that we shouldn’t put the vr in that position.

It leaves an awkward feeling that's for sure.....

same could be said for perenara and reffing the warriors, storm, dragons and eels???

Sure, I think this becomes even more important if the nrl want to increase the fans exposure to identity politics and encourage tribalism. It then becomes even more important for the nrl decision makers to be seen as unbiased in all their dealings.

 

[Russell]

Isn't David Fairleigh on a teams coaching staff?

If he is, he shouldn't be selecting referees.

 

[OzLuke]

Isn't David Fairleigh on a teams coaching staff?

If he is, he shouldn't be selecting referees.

isn't he at the cowboys?

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

Isn't David Fairleigh on a teams coaching staff?

If he is, he shouldn't be selecting referees.

isn't he at the cowboys?

WWOS

NineSportNRL
Ex-Kangaroos star David Fairleigh set for NRL referee coaching role
By The Mole - 3 weeks ago


The NRL has signed up former Kangaroos star David Fairleigh in a bid to improve the struggling refereeing ranks this season.

Fairleigh will take on a senior role as Officiating Coach of referees and will start his new job in coming weeks.

A highly-respected former North Sydney and Newcastle forward, Fairleigh played nearly 250 first grade games as well as representing New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia in Test football.


He then turned his hand to coaching and this week quit as assistant coach of North Queensland to accept the job at
Fairleigh appeared in 15 Tests for the Kangaroos as well as 10 Origin matches for New South Wales (Getty)
"I've been involved in the game for over 30 years and see this as an exciting new challenge," Fairleigh told Wide World of Sports.

"I will be working in a broad range of roles with the referees and it is a new chapter in my life."

Only last weekend, the referees came under intense fire yet again at the NRL Nines when Penrith were knocked out of the competition by a Dragons try that should never have

 

[trentrunciman]

"6 again!! 6 again! Change over! Last tackle!!"

 

[innsaneink]

No more rails run Gerry

 

[innsaneink]

Good this game stinks... It really reeks

 

[jirskyr]

I bet it makes absolutely no difference. I don't care if Bernie chooses his brothers or not, or whether a 26-man panel has the job.

It's the overall quality and consistency of decision-making that counts.

 

[happy_tiger]

Good this game stinks... It really reeks

Of Brut ??

 

[OzLuke]

I bet it makes absolutely no difference. I don't care if Bernie chooses his brothers or not, or whether a 26-man panel has the job.

It's the overall quality and consistency of decision-making that counts.

No truer statement spoken.....

so much technology to protect under performing referees from making dud decisions

 

[trentrunciman]

what about the tigers arch nemesis the Badge?