The NRL is set to remove under-performing officials from the Bunker in a move that will delight frustrated coaches, players and fans.
Wide World of Sports has learned that senior NRL officials are deeply concerned with the inconsistencies in the Bunker’s rulings.
As a result, several of the main offenders will be removed from working in the high-tech room in a major shift that should improve the consistency of the Bunker.
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Former referee Steve Chiddy, who has presided over State of Origin games and grand finals from the Bunker, was stood down recently and is unlikely to return.
Chiddy came up with a howler in the clash between the Raiders and the Warriors in round eight, awarding the Warriors a controversial late penalty when prop Matt Lodge stayed on the ground holding his face, after copping a supposed high-shot.
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The Warriors kicked the ensuing goal, levelling the scores and went on to win the game in extra time. Lodge later admitted he milked the penalty, with contact shown to be minimal.
Several other officials who have struggled with the technology will also be slowly removed from the Bunker, with only proven performers getting games – even if it means they will do several per weekend.
Fans have been left infuriated by the Bunker for several seasons, while in recent weeks coaches Ricky Stuart, Des Hasler, and Todd Payten have criticised its role in crucial calls that have decided games.
SLOAN MAY LEAVE DRAGONS
Don’t be surprised if talented young Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan – touted as the next big thing at the Dragons at the start of the year – quits the club.
Sloan had strips torn off him by coach Anthony Griffin recently and has told friends he believes he has no future at the club.
His confidence is badly shaken and with Cody Ramsey starring at fullback last weekend, Sloan won’t be back in the top grade any time soon.
The youngster has already been dropped twice in the opening 11 rounds of the season and shapes as an ideal signing for Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins.
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THE BARRETT MOMENT THAT SUMS HIM UP
Trent Barrett‘s time in rugby league is probably up after messy exits from both Manly and the Bulldogs and he has been the subject of much ridicule over both.
Some blokes just aren’t cut out for coaching but let me share a story that shows what Trent Barrett, the man, is like.
Some 20 years ago, when Barrett was captaining the Dragons, and one of the NRL’s glamour boys, there was a curtain raiser before a game at Kogarah.
It was a massive mismatch – a Dragons under 20 team thrashed a team from the Central Coast by more than 100 points.
I happened to be on the sideline as the teams left the field and several of the poor kids from up the Coast were in tears – and the Kogarah crowd were far from kind with their jibes.
Barrett happened to be on the sideline doing a TV interview as the players left the field and saw the distressed state of some of the kids from Central Coast.
I’ll never forget how he quietly walked up to them, told them to keep their chins up, and said that he had copped some big beltings in his time as a young player – and that they could bounce back from it just as he did.
The gloomy expressions on the faces of these kids immediately changed and it shows that while Barrett may not have been the best coach league has seen, he has certainly been one of the best blokes.
SLATER SHOCK HAS TEEN ON VERGE OF DEBUT
Queensland has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to wingers, with Corey Oates, Kyle Feldt, Murray Taulagi, Selwyn Cobbo and Xavier Coates all available and in good form.
But after his dynamic performances over the past two weeks, Cobbo will be the first winger picked.
Despite his tender age (19) and lack of experience, Cobbo is setting the NRL alight.
Against the Knights last Thursday, he bagged two tries, had 224 running metres, nine tackle breaks and three line breaks.
The teenager has the speed and power to cause the Blues all sorts of headaches and I’m hearing Queensland coach Billy Slater finds him too dangerous to leave out.
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