Video technology: a level playing field?

by Rebecca Stephenson
Rugby League Extra, BBC Radio Manchester

But is it a try?

In today's football-dominated media, video refereeing is often talked about as the technological answer to the game's dodgy decisions.

And there are frequent references to the 'utopian' world of rugby league, where fans wait with baited breath for the decisive ruling of the video referee.

Not so. Super League's use of the 'man-in-the-stands' has been the source of much argument this season, and provided a big talking point on BBC Radio Manchester's Rugby League Extra (10 September 2009).

Joining Jack Dearden and Trevor Hunt in the studio were Match Officials Director Stuart Cummins, and Salford's Director of Football Steve Simms.

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Video refereeing in Super League has, in actual fact, introduced a new measure of inconsistency into the sport, as only the televised games benefit from the 'advantage' of the technology.

Surely all games played in a league should be operating under the same conditions? Yet this simply isn't the case.

Steve Simms was adamant that this should change. "If we are going to use technology, it should be at all games," he said.

"Our game is just as important as the one that's on TV, and of course those at the top of the table end up being shown more than those at the bottom.

"Therefore, they get the advantage more often, which isn't fair."

Stuart Cummins admitted that introducing the technology at every game would benefit the sport, but said that it was just not feasible at the moment in terms of cost.

Video technology is only used at televised games

"We have to weigh up the expense against the benefits that it would give, and at the moment the clubs don't feel this is worthwhile," he said.

"We do have a camera at every game but there you need a variety of angles to get the benefits and I believe if we're going to do it, we should do it properly."

He did, however, deny that games played without the technology were disadvantageous to the teams involved.

"All Super League games have in-goal judges, and when you look at the stats, their decisions rarely differ from the video refs. All the technology offers is another level of comfort to the officials".

Should Super League operate on a level playing field? Or is it better to take advantage of the technology even if this means that matches are officiated differently?

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