Stevo was discussing this post-match today. Usually he's way out of touch, but I've got to agree with him on this. It makes sense. The ref has stopped the game to talk to the touch judges already, so it's not like it'll add time. Surely the video ref will be in a better position to review it?

Lee should have gone, and had a video been looked at then they'd have had a better opportunity to decide his fate.

IMO yes. I've thought it for years. The video Ref is there to make decisions on things that the ref hasnt seen, so why not extend it to include possible sending offs. Tommy Lee should have walked last night. I know it may have spoiled the game but he deserved red.

the RFL should open up ears and start listening to the people within the game because this is the best way of dealing with the problem and dodgey forward passes are becoming a real problem the touch judges need to start running and keeping up with play properly.

But you can't use the video ref to judge forward passes


What it really needs are touch judges with the balls to put their flag up and call it.

Good idea in theory but the telly games are slow enough at the moment anyway. He would still call the touchie over have a chat then get video ref involved then get the players over 2 minutes gone!!
Going to the video to see how to re-start a game is taking the pi.. as well, at this rate going to have two games a week reffed totally different to the other games!!

I think so, its the only way, rather than the referee having to make an on the spot decision.

I still think though that the video referee concept is too flawed, as only the top teams get to benefit from it!

I said it on the other thread, on report should go. It's simply an excuse for referees to avoid making difficult decisions. Lee's tackle was about as bad as it gets, and took place in full view of the official. His touch judge also tried to tell him how bad it was, but he'd already decided to take the 'safe' option and put it on report. Having the video ref look at it as well wouldn't make any difference - Bentham saw it, but lacked the balls to make the correct decision.

All that said, in instances where the ref hasn't seen what has happened, the video ref should look at it immediately whilst the ref is consulting with his touch judges, so that no additional time is wasted if the official needs a VR opinion.

If the ref is going to go on report then why not automatic yellow, then the video ref has 10 minutes to decide one way or another if it deserves a red.

What are the stats like for decisions made by the committee for players put on report ie 50 go in front X banned. Maybe the RFL need to analyse the use of it then make a decision on its future.

What we don't want to do is end up like soccer where every back page is a complaint about a match being decided by a bad penalty, sending off etc which we see every weekend at the mo.

Lee should have gone for a wreck less challenge (not malicious) but giving even more responsibility to video refs means each week the match officials are going to have less and less of a very questionable back bone!

Lee wasn't the only incident mind you, Bridge should of been binned for 10 and any of a number of Giants players for blatant ignoring the ref after the string of conceded penalties. The English game seriously lacks consistency from our officials and Eddie hit this nail on the head when he said had Ganson been reffing then Lee would have seen straight red. Catalan/Cas saw two players sent to cool off for 10 for fighting, where other refs would of just put it on report. So we are desperately crying out for consistency at the moment before changing the way we do things completely.

For once, a good idea from Stevo - but could it be used in all games where Sky aren't present?

It might stop the issues we saw last night.

Not sure about using the yellow and then converting it to a red during the 10 mins as that could cause confusion for the fans and teams alike not knowing whether said player would come back or not.

If you aren't a 'big' club then you don't get the advantages (and disadvantages) of a video referee for some reason. It's not fair, not just the big clubs though, we need video referees across Super League.