Rugby league law makers looked to both rugby union and cricket’s far from perfect Decision Review System when scrapping their controversial benefit of the doubt rule, the ARLC says.
The benefit of the doubt rule – which supported the attacking team – was scrapped by the ARLC on Tuesday following a year of controversial decisions in high stakes matches.
ARL Commission interim chief executive Shane Mattiske said after looking at a range of sports both in Australia and overseas, video referee rulings on try scoring situations will be changed from the start of the 2013 NRL season to improve the game.
“We looked at rugby, we looked at cricket, we looked at some international sports through the US and the UK and really our focus has been improving our system,” he said.
“What you’ll see in the game now is a referee actually indicate his view on whether it is a try or no try.
“If there’s uncertainty, he will send it to the video ref, and it will only be overturned if the video ref can clearly see there is a reason to overturn that decision – I think that it will be positively received by fans.”
The other big decision made on Tuesday was State of Origin eligibility, another hot topic in 2012, after New Zealand-born James Tamou was allowed to represent Australia and then NSW.
From 2013 no player will be eligible to play for NSW or Queensland unless he has lived in that state before the age of 13, or unless he is the son of an Origin player.
Players from the ACT will be the only exception to the rule, and will be considered eligible for New South Wales.
Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens, a competition committee member who was consulted for the eligibility rule change, didn’t want to get drawn into the discussion on Wednesday saying club coaches might have more to say about it than himself.
“I think obviously you’re never sure if you’ve got it 100 per cent right but I think it is a step in the right direction,” he said.