ARL Chairman Peter V’landys has made the extraordinary decision that the NRL will proceed with just a single referee for the rest of the 2020 NRL season in a measure that has been put down to “cost cutting”. Despite the fact the first two rounds of the competition were played under the now familiar two…
In this amazing episode we talk about the first referee in the NSWRL, Ted Hooper. You can also follow Andrew Ferguson and The Glorious League Freak on their respective twitter accounts. Check out The Rugby League Project for all your Rugby League statistics. Also check out The Official Website Of The Glorious League Freak for all your Rugby League news and opinions. Become…
In todays episode we talk about refereeing in the NRL and what we think of the standard of refereeing. We also talk about the constant media attacks on the referees, players, and the game in general. To take the OFFICIAL Fergo and The Freak 2019 NRL Fan Poll CLICK HERE If you enjoy our podcast…
The Penrith Panthers have managed to hold off a late charge by the Manly Sea Eagles to secure a munch needed 15-12 victory on Thursday night. The match didn’t rise to any great heights, with the Panthers taking a 9-0 lead into half time and both teams playing some very scrappy football for most of…
From its birth at The George Hotel in Huddersfield to the bright lights of the NRL, Rugby League has undergone an evolution unlike any other sport. In its early days Rugby League had the exact same rules as Rugby Union. The only true difference between the two sports is that Rugby League players could be…
In this episode we look at Greg Inglis’ retirement and the drama surrounding the possible salary cap implications for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Eye Gouging allegations and how they are handled, what should happen when a player is badly injured on the field and play is allowed to continue, and the rising retirement age among…
It is the old misdirection play. The team loses a game and the coach starts to spray the referees in the post match press conference to take pressure off himself, and his team. It is a move that is very old and very effective. Hell, even when you know what is going on you end…
During last nights match between the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sam Burgess ran at the line, turned his back, passed the ball, and got absolutely smashed. There was nothing wrong with the hit. It was a great hit. If you run at the line and turn your back on 13 humans looking to…
As a Penrith Panthers supporter, I HATE hearing excuses like this. Jamie Soward has told NRL Tonight that the lack of big name players in the Penrith Panthers lineup hurts them when it comes to how referees control their games. “Out at Penrith we don’t really have a big name to go up and question…
Manly’s Treatment Of Toovey Is A Disgrace The treatment of Geoff Toovey by the Manly Sea Eagles is a disgrace. When you consider the constant infighting at board level Toovey has had to deal with during his time as the Sea Eagles head coach, the injury list he has managed, the loss of talent he…
Mitchell Moses was very lucky to remain on the field after this high tackle on William Zillman in the Wests Tigers win over the Good Coast Titans on Saturday night. Take a look at the footage and make your own mind up as to whether it was a send off offence or not: Personally I…
I know it’s been about 20 hours since it last happened in Rugby League but….it’s happening again. THE SKY IS FALLING!!! When the Canterbury Bulldogs kicked the ball through the defensive line and it’s hit the referee it enacted what is possibly my favourite rule in the entire game. When the ball hits the referee…
When a referee makes a mistake I expect a good commentary team to discuss the decision. I want them to break down why the decision was wrong, show evidence that it was wrong, and then talk briefly about the possible ramifications that will follow from that wrong decision before going back to calling the football…
You know, apart from the rules, the time keeping, the referees, the salary cap, the schedule and the venues…..nothing in Rugby League needs changed according to the NRL. No other sport on the planet decides to change it’s rules as often as Rugby League does. In some ways it can be a blessing, after all…
Across multiple press conferences this weekend, coaches of multiple teams took officials to task to continue a worrying trend, that of blaming referees rather than taking responsibility. Let me first say I believe the Storm were very hard done by on Saturday night, particularly with the penalty awarded very late in the game after the…
Over the weekend, much like every weekend, fans of a variety of clubs took to social media to bag the referees, the NRL, television stations and announce that there is a conspiracy against their club. Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of bagging referees, the NRL and Channel 9 on more than one occasion,…
Andrew Fifita has be pretty blunt when talking about the North Queensland Cowboys final exit against the Cronulla Sharks last season. Fifita told Fairfax media that he didn’t notice the mistake that saw the Cronulla Sharks score a try one the 7th tackle in last years finals series match against the Cowboys. The Sharks went…
The Manly Sea Eagles smashed the Wests Tigers 40-8 on Friday night. Despite the one sided thrashing the big talking point was a mistake by referee Shayne Hayne in the opening minutes of the match. The Wests Tigers looked to have scored at try, or at least gone very, very close. Shayne Hayne chose to…
Former NRL referee Bill Harrigan has told News Limited that Chris Sandow should have been sent off, not given ten minutes in the sin bin, for asking referee Ben Cummings “How much are they paying you/”. I tend to agree with Bill Harrigan, you can’t go attacking the integrity on any official so directly without…
If there is one thing I love writing about, it is referees… Paul Gallen and Greg Bird have called for a return to one referee for State Of Origin football. They believe one referee, one voice, would help ease confusion over decisions and make it easier for players who have to deal with just one…
Yesterday it was confirmed that Will Hopoate and Josh Dugan will replace the injured Morris brothers in the squad for the second State of Origin squad, with Dugan set to take up the centre position. Josh Dugan has always lifted in the Origin arena, and was amongst the state’s best in last years series, however…
This weekend we saw half a round, played out between half sides, in front of half a crowd, so why shouldn’t games played during Origin be worth half the competition points? Of course this is something that will never happen however if you want a snapshot of just how mixed up Origin affected NRL games…
Angry Newcastle Knights fans have started an online petition calling for the removal of multi time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett in the wake of their record loss to the Panthers. Surely no one saw this coming, and although only supported by a small percentage of fans, the fact a petition to remove Bennett exists…
Over the last few weeks video referee’s have been under intense scrutiny for some of the unbelievably bad decisions they have made. This has led to calls from some people to have all decisions made at NRL headquarters by a centralized video referee that would hand down decisions during games. In some ways it sounds…
You have to feel sorry for the North Queensland Cowboys. Their 26-21 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles in Gosford last night should not have occurred. I have defended on field officials and I still stand by that. They have a tough job to do and are asked to make decisions instantly. Sometimes they will…
The National Rugby League has confirmed that the final, amazing, exciting play on Monday night that saw the Melbourne Storm score after the final siren should not have happened. The NRL Referees Elite Performance Manager, Tony Archer, who has the most complicated job title on planet earth, has put the blame on the referee’s who…
As a parent I teach my kids accountability, and that if they do something wrong there will be consequences. In my career I am bound by various pieces of legislation and directives – All of which hold consequences should I so something wrong whilst in my role. The same is true for just about every…
Superintendent Rooster Trent Robinson has harnessed one of league’s great uncontrollables and guaranteed his side a more favourable deal in next weekend’s penalty count. After winning only six infraction contests in his dux year of 2013 and being mercilessly lashed again so far this season, Robinson broke the emergency glass to stop the rot in…
I always find it funny when I see people whinging about the referee’s. Referees are always out to get their team. They always have to overcome the “pricks in pink”. The only thing standing between their team and premiership success are the blokes with the whistles. I have a really simple view of refereeing decisions…
Rugby League trial games don’t mean a great deal in the grand scheme of things. No one should look too much into the results. Their main function is to help bring players up to match fitness and maybe work on a few combinations heading into the new season. Still, that hasn’t stopped Geoff Toovey from…
