Test Series Officials

[Harry Stottle]

Is it as against Samoa when the International Board appointed the RFL to appoint the Refs, control disciplinary etc.

Anyone who watched the Aus GF would be very aware of how the ruck area of the RFL and NRL is so different, in that in Aus it is so much faster and void of all the histrionics that the tackled players in SL perform, this is down to the onfield officiating in my opinion and how the game over there has advanced over SL.

Personally, I would much sooner watch the faster NRL style than the slower SL version.

So try as I may I can't find if the officials have been given the responsibility of either the RFL or NRL, anyone know?

[StandOffHalf]

2 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Is it as against Samoa when the International Board appointed the RFL to appoint the Refs, control disciplinary etc.

Anyone who watched the Aus GF would be very aware of how the ruck area of the RFL and NRL is so different, in that in Aus it is so much faster and void of all the histrionics that the tackled players in SL perform, this is down to the onfield officiating in my opinion and how the game over there has advanced over SL.

Personally, I would much sooner watch the faster NRL style than the slower SL version.

So try as I may I can't find if the officials have been given the responsibility of either the RFL or NRL, anyone know?

My guess would be Kendall and Moore, with maybe one Aussie-reffed game.

The ref appointments will have a huge bearing on the games.

Edited October 9, 2025 by StandOffHalf

[Anita Bath]

So long as its not Ashley K ill be happy.

[Coggo]

Steady on, Harold. Slow rucks help England. 

[hunsletgreenandgold]

It's an interesting conversation point, that I know has been touched on in a couple of the other Ashes threads. My preference would be mixed nationality officials eg. Ref from Aus, VR from England etc. Most likely they'll all be English and the Aussies will lose their mind at how bad our refs are, same as they have in the past 2 series v Tonga and Samoa. I've no issue with it being English refs but we really do have to keep that ruck area clean. If that happens you'll naturally get a faster more flowing game. It will be a bad look if there's really slow/clunky PTBs because the ref isn't clamping down.

[corvusxiii]

59 minutes ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

It's an interesting conversation point, that I know has been touched on in a couple of the other Ashes threads. My preference would be mixed nationality officials eg. Ref from Aus, VR from England etc. Most likely they'll all be English and the Aussies will lose their mind at how bad our refs are, same as they have in the past 2 series v Tonga and Samoa. I've no issue with it being English refs but we really do have to keep that ruck area clean. If that happens you'll naturally get a faster more flowing game. It will be a bad look if there's really slow/clunky PTBs because the ref isn't clamping down.

Do we know why the RFL/Refs allow such a turgid pace? RL can be a great spectacle and yet..... 

[Spidey]

It’s a question that really shouldn’t be being asked but what rules are we playing to? What’s the video ref protocols? Are there captains challenges?  They’re more fundamental to where the referee is from 

[sheddingswasus]

I hope the rucks are clean and we don’t get the genial holding down and wresting in the tackle. It is spoiling the game in my view. 

[hunsletgreenandgold]

12 minutes ago, Spidey said:

It’s a question that really shouldn’t be being asked but what rules are we playing to? What’s the video ref protocols? Are there captains challenges?  They’re more fundamental to where the referee is from 

The games will be played under IRL rules which are now largely inline with NRL/SL - just some clarity around 6 again I'm not entirely sure might be a bit different. Captain's challenge will be in and I assume video ref will be the SL approach of the ref sending it up, rather than the far superior NRL way of ref giving it and VR overturning if they find an issue in the replays. 

[sam4731]

1 hour ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

The games will be played under IRL rules which are now largely inline with NRL/SL - just some clarity around 6 again I'm not entirely sure might be a bit different. Captain's challenge will be in and I assume video ref will be the SL approach of the ref sending it up, rather than the far superior NRL way of ref giving it and VR overturning if they find an issue in the replays. 

2 pt FG?

[sam4731]

1 SL, 1 NRL and James Vella? Bit of balance.

[Double Knock On]

If we want a real test, we should have Julian Rascangues or "Mr Deplas" ("I wouldn't buy a carpet off him"- Ray F if I'm not mistaken on the interpretation of the 10m rule) 

[Damien]

The Aussies as usual will put immense pressure on the referee to ensure the game is refereed their way. Even English refs referee these game quite differently than they would normally do.

[graveyard johnny]

7 hours ago, Anita Bath said:

So long as its not Ashley K ill be happy.

me too - lennie peters would do a better job than ak 

[jacksy]

I'm guessing they will want their officials to ref two of the tests.

[Hopie]

They decide when they play, and where, and who the ref is and...

[jacksy]

I was rewatching the 2nd test of 1990. The Aussie commentator mentioned that the Aussies made a call to the ref before the test. Complaining about how the wembley test was reffed.

[gingerjon]

6 hours ago, Hopie said:

They decide when they play, and where, and who the ref is and...

Yes.

And if we want tests against Australia and a World Club Championship then we agree to their terms.

[dkw]

I think its quite amusing seeing people want our play the balls to be more like the NRL`s, when 3 or 4 years ago the same people complained about how our PTB`s were too quick and there wasnt even an attempt to put foot on ball etc...I mean have you seen the NRL PTB`s now, its roll ball for gods sake, its why so many set resets are given as defences aren't allowed to even get back or et at all due to the speed of the PTB.

[Mark S]

Even when we have a UK ref they are usually that concerned with not being bias that they go too far the other way. 

[dkw]

10 minutes ago, Mark S said:

Even when we have a UK ref they are usually that concerned with not being bias that they go too far the other way. 

God damn Ganson!!!!!

[sam4731]

Its worrying that we're over 2 weeks out and the excuses are already starting to surface.

[Mark S]

1 hour ago, sam4731 said:

Its worrying that we're over 2 weeks out and the excuses are already starting to surface.

Playing the Aussies at their own game, good to see!

[hunsletgreenandgold]

3 hours ago, dkw said:

I think its quite amusing seeing people want our play the balls to be more like the NRL`s, when 3 or 4 years ago the same people complained about how our PTB`s were too quick and there wasnt even an attempt to put foot on ball etc...I mean have you seen the NRL PTB`s now, its roll ball for gods sake, its why so many set resets are given as defences aren't allowed to even get back or et at all due to the speed of the PTB.

That's not true and is the fundemental difference. When SL had so called 'fast' PTBs it's because they barely got back to their feet and just rolled it, without even lifting a leg sometimes. The NRL, might let the odd one go, but you watch any snippet of the NRL grand final last week for a couple of minutes and I guarantee you over 95% play it back with their foot. Compare and contrast that with tomorrow. That's a bit of an aside for me anyway - the biggest difference is the ridiculous amount of time we allow 'laying on' and the 'peel off' - it's so slow compared to NRL and that's what i'm pre-empting the Aussies will be calling out to officials before game 1. 

Edited October 10, 2025 by hunsletgreenandgold

[Harry Stottle]

On 09/10/2025 at 14:47, Coggo said:

Steady on, Harold. Slow rucks help England. 

Maybe so but I have had enough of watching slow rucks in SL, I watcn both NRL and SL and in my mind I know what I prefer to watch.

Edited October 10, 2025 by Harry Stottle