A ‘captain’s challenge’ will be trialled in a Toyota Cup clash on Saturday in what could be a pre-cursor to the system being used in the NRL.
The match between Gold Coast and Manly – who are out of finals contention running last and 14th on the ladder respectively – will be used as the guinea pig in the latest attempt to cut down on refereeing errors.
Each team will nominate two players before the match who have the authority to challenge a refereeing decision – though they will be limited to specific calls they are allowed to question.
These include mandatory penalties for offside rulings, whether a ball has been knocked-on or stripped and any try-scoring situations not sent to the video referee for review by the on-field official.
Teams will not be permitted to challenge judgment calls relating to forward passes or discretionary penalties involving the 10 metres and flops at the play-the-ball.
“It is something that has been used overseas and which has been discussed as an option in our game for many years,” ARLC general manager of football operations Nathan McGuirk said in a statement.
“The idea of the trial is to test how such a system could work in our game and identify any future options.”
The challenge system has been used to good effect in the National Football League in the US, where coaches are permitted to challenge from the sideline by throwing a flag on the field.
ARL Commissioner Wayne Pearce, former Test captain Darren Lockyer and several past and present NRL coaches including Brian Smith and Daniel Anderson were consulted in setting up the trial.
Referees’ coach Stuart Raper hoped the model being trialed would have minimal impact on the flow of the game.
“It is important to try new ideas and I think that this is a real opportunity to trial something that has been debated around rugby league for a number of years,” Raper said.
Nominated players will indicate to the referee that they intend to challenge the refereeing decision, with play stopped for the ruling to be reviewed.
Each team is permitted one unsuccessful challenge per half, with the challenge retained if the original decision is overturned.
If replays prove inconclusive, the match will restart under the initial ruling.
