What can coaches really say about referees?
[NRL] What can coaches really say about referees?
One of the biggest grey areas in Rugby League is just what NRL coaches can say about the referees controlling the games they coach in. Today in the Daily Telegraph journalist Steve Mascord reports that South Sydney coach Jason Taylor and Penrith coach Matthew Elliott could be facing fines from the NRL for questioning the integrity of the referees who controlled their respective games in Round 14.
The NRL's Media and Communications Manager John Brady tried to explain what coaches can say about referees with this statement: "You can criticise a decision, you can criticise the referee, you can even say he shouldn't be in first grade. What you can't do is suggest some sort of preconceived idea on the part of match officials. You can't question their integrity."
Ummm forgive me for my ignorance but if you criticise a decision and thus/also the referee and then suggest he should be in reserve grade the next week - are you or are you not basically saying he's hopeless and has no business controlling a game at the top level because of his incompetence. Sure you may not technically be saying 'he's a cheat when he's officiating us' in so many words but you aren't exactly saying he's giving your team a level playing field if you are questioning his ability. Because if he is not up to the standard to officiate at the NRL level then isn't that lack of ability conspiring against the chances of your team winning games?
What do you think?
Check out Steve Mascord's article here:
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