Steve McNamara believes video referees should be scrapped from ALL matches.
The Bulls boss controversially called for the much-maligned officials to be binned next season in a bid to restore some order.
They are currently used at each televised Sky match – normally two games per weekend – but Super League are considering employing them at every fixture in 2009 to create a level playing field.
It will be at vast expense but many clubs are in favour.
However, a number of coaches have been infuriated to see video refs still manage to get decisions wrong despite the use of such technology.
McNamara cites Phil Bentham’s handling of Chris Nero’s ‘try’ in their play-off game with Wigan and believes, to rule out such inconsistencies, the best option is to ditch the ‘square in the air’ completely.
“There’s a call currently for video refs to be at every game to make it a standard, equal and fair competition,” he said.
“Sometimes people say if they had been at a non-televised game the result could have been different.
“But, my argument is, if they can’t even get it right while looking at the screen then what’s the point?
“To make the competition even, don’t have video refs at ANY games whatsoever.
“If only two games are getting video refs each week and four aren’t – five next season – then just get rid of those two instead of employing five more, even if they are on Sky.
“Let’s do away with them all together. That levels it out.”
McNamara continued: “Refs should be allowed to go on their gut feeling and instinct.
“You can accept and understand them getting it wrong if they have to make a decision in a moment and rule instantly.
“But when they get the chance to sit and endlessly study a video replay and STILL make the wrong decision it just makes it even worse.
“I’m not saying that we would have won against Wigan if he had got the decision right but they did look long enough at it to find a reason not to award the ‘try.’
“Over the course of the 80 minutes, we didn’t deserve victory and I have to emphasise that. But what we did deserve was an opportunity to put ourselves in a position to win. We could have gone 14-0 up and then maybe Wigan would have had to chase the game and make mistakes, instead of us.”
Referees’ boss Stuart Cummings admitted earlier this year that video referee Steve Ganson got a rule wrong in disallowing a Dave Halley effort against Leeds while there have been a raft of other mystifying outcomes in Super League.
Meanwhile, McNamara has revealed he won’t be making any outbursts against officials in 2009.
The Odsal chief has vented his fury on a number of occasions this year and last but said: “No more. I’ve wasted too much time and energy on referees and in future I won’t be speaking about them at all.”
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