In the last few years, it has been no secret to the rugby league fan that the National Rugby League’s video refereeing system has been in desperate need of an overhaul. Fans have been growing increasingly frustrated, not only with the decisions themselves, but the amount of time it takes for referees to make them.
The Australian Rugby League Commission has recently approved the implementation of a Central Command Centre for video referee reviews to begin operations for the 2016 season. The NRL has joined forces with world-renowned broadcast solution provider, NEP; Hawk-Eye Innovations, who will arrange the review technology; and Telstra, who will provide the digital network connectivity platform.
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The brand new centre will be the most thorough and complex bunker Australian sport has ever seen, and will be based in Sydney. The center will utilize Hawk-Eye technology that will allow referees to access a number of camera angles, playback control, touch screen interfaces, zoom functions and split screens.
Head of Football, Todd Greenberg, said the centre is being designed to improve “accuracy, efficiency, consistency as well as transparency” when it comes to the referees’ decision making process.
“Recent trials have shown that video referees can review decisions in an average of about 40 seconds when they have relevant angles and enhanced video technology available at their fingertips.”
“That’s half the current average time our video referees take to make a decision – and that will be our target next season.”
In previous seasons, the NRL has received heavy criticism for the amount of time it takes officials to make their decisions. It has come to the point where going upstairs for a review has the potential to give teams an advantage, often sparing them 3 or 4 minutes to gather their breath and recover. It slows down the action for fans at the game and frustrates those watching from home.
With the implementation of this new bunker, it is clear that the NRL – to it’s credit – have listened to their fans and come up with a plan to cut down time spent on stoppages.
In addition to the technology at the referees’ disposal, other perks such as live transparency will be in effect. Fans are often left wondering why or how a referee has come to his or her decision, but now the referee will give a live explanation as to how the decision was made, which will completely change the fan experience.
“Ultimately, it has the potential to help us make the right decisions – and to make them quicker,” said Greenberg.
To address those two issues would be eliminating a large proportion of criticism that the NRL receives, as they have been some of the most controversial topics of past seasons. While it may take some time getting used to, the idea looks to be a solid one and should certainly push the fan experience in the right direction.