Rugby League is week in week out, one of the greatest sporting products around the globe, yet somehow, we’re managing to dent its brilliance.
Let’s be clear: refereeing issues aren’t unique to our game. Sporting competitions globally are grappling with the same dilemma.
As technology progresses, we have multiple camera angles on every play highlighting not only the spectacular tries and gut-busting tackles but also every single mistake by officials.
Imagine being a referee today. The modern game has never been faster or more intense, yet referees are expected to make instantaneous, split-second decisions under enormous pressure.
Perhaps it’s time we reconsidered a return to the two-referee system. Many critics will immediately claim, “That’s just more people to ruin the game!” But think about it for a moment. Two referees on the field could mean more opportunities for emerging referees to learn from the very best.
The constant shifting, from using your foot in the play the ball, to high shots, to sin bins of referee emphasis in 2025 has been overwhelming for me as a fan.
Do we really expect referees to seamlessly shift mid-season? It’s simply unrealistic and places referees under undue stress.
Then there’s the controversial “six again” rule – one wrapped in vagueness rather than clarity. In today’s lightning-paced game, teams frequently find themselves defending two, three, or four repeated sets near their own line.
It’s practically a no-win scenario. Fatigue rapidly sets in, and defences crumble, not from lack of skill or determination, but purely from exhaustion.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
To preserve our competition’s status as the pinnacle of sport, we must seriously commit to supporting, training, and properly resourcing our referees.
This doesn’t just mean increased training sessions or more stringent reviews – it involves an overall cultural shift in how we view and treat match officials. We should be fostering an environment where referees are empowered, respected, and genuinely supported.
What might that look like in practical terms? I’m strongly leaning towards bringing back the dual-referee system.
With State of Origin looming, we’re reminded how differently these big clashes are officiated compared to regular club matches. Will this continue? Or, will the rule flip flopping we are seeing at club land enter its way into the fold?
