Three referees a crowd: NRL coaches slam third whistleblower proposal

The NRL is in the process of undertaking a sweeping review of the refereeing ranks, which will be led by former Australian cricket coach John Buchanan and league Immortal Bob Fulton. While most coaches contacted by Fairfax Media said the mooted video bunker system could lead to greater consistency, they were scathing about the prospect of throwing another referee into the fray.

"It will finish up turning into gridiron when you get those flags thrown in all the time because there's been an infringement somewhere," Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter said. "You'd lose the flow of the game. There's enough officials already on the field, you've got two plus the two on the sidelines. For me, I don't think we need any more than that."

Premiership-winning Roosters coach Trent Robinson, a member of the NRL's competition rules committee, said the two-referee system works well.

"People have talked about it going back to one [but] everyone knows that wrestling has come back into the game since 2005-06, so the eye on the ruck is really important," Robinson said.

"I've also liked the advancement in the last couple of years where they haven't shared a game, there's been a lead referee who has been in control. They've been good. I'm not quite sure what a third referee's role will be because the touch judges have taken on a significant role in the game with the assessment of the 10 metres and also calling penalties or in other instances within the game.

"I think if they are going to increase the funding in that area, touch judges should go full-time – which I believe they have experimented with this year – because of the involvement they have."

Manly's Geoff Toovey has been one of the most vocal proponents for going back to a one-referee system, as is the case with international fixtures. Asked about the prospect of three refs, he replied, tongue firmly planted in cheek: "I think they should probably put five or six on. Give us someone else to yell at and complain about. Bring it on."

No team has been more adversely affected by poor officiating than North Queensland. Bad calls during the past two finals series have effectively snuffed out their premiership chances. Their coach, Paul Green, said there was already too much inconsistency in interpretation with two referees.

"My initial reaction would be no [to three]," Green said. "You'd get too many interpretations on the game then.

"The thing that frustrates me most is when you feel like games aren't being reffed consistently, with subjective penalties like ruck penalties. The more opinions, the harder it is to be consistent. Now, to be throwing in another ref, it will only make it harder."

Another coach, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I'm dumbfounded, I don't know what they're on about."

The prospect of having the match review committee lay charges in real time – meaning coaches could have a charge sheet finalised by the time they made it to the post-match press conference – received a warmer reception.

"Understanding the impacts of something that happened on a game for the following week, the sooner we get that the better," Robinson said.

"As long as it's the same processes they use and the same unemotional response to those gradings, it would be a better process."

Green, however, was sceptical. "That's fraught with danger because coaches are going to get coaxed into commenting on charges without having the luxury of seeing the replays," Green said.

"You finish the game, you talk to your team straight after the game, and then you're straight into the press conference. If you don't have a replay there when you give an opinion, it's easy to say the wrong thing."