I was thinking this morning about the forward pass situation, having had two games changed this season by poor refereeing decisions with regard to forward passes. Currently, the video ref can't judge because sometimes certain camera angles could be viewed as being mis leading. On the face of it that is fine. Or is it? No, its total rubbish. The exact same principle applies to the referee. Surely his opinion is altered depending on where he is stood! So he is in no better place to judge than a video replay.
So...with that in mind, surely the RFL should experiment with allowing the VR to judge on whether a pass is forward or not. You can still use the Benefit of the doubt rule if its not clear, but in cases such as the Salford cup game and last night, a quick look at the video would have clearly proved the refereeing decisions to be incorrect. Thoughts?

Rubbish! It's BECAUSE the camera angle is not in line with the pass that you think the pass was ok. Silverwood had a better position than any camera in the ground (looking straight down the line, as per my view from the stand).

or you could teach the refs the fine art of the rules of rugby league and we wouldn't have the problem, guarantee that if that had been senior to hall for leeds the ref wouldn't of batted an eye lid.

lol. its not rubbish. The linesman had the best view and he played on. Silverwood was not up with play. I think the VR should at least have a look on forward passes. It couldnt do any harm

Silverwood was two metres behind play , The touchjudge was even further back on Hedon road !! .

Good post and one I agree with. My opinion is that although some passes may still be incorrectly called even with a VR the number that are called wrong would be reduced which should be what everyone wants.

bollox bollox bollox

It's a hypocrisy that knock ons can be judge by the video ref but not forward passes. The same principle applies, did the ball travel forward relative to the player in possession?

I still think we need to move this even further. look at NFL, they have coaches challenges on crucial plays which are reviewed. For tries or the plays leading up to them why not try this approach & maybe just maybe the fans wont get so hacked off when it's obvious the officials are at fault. It's hardly surprsing that NFL games have few mistakes by the on field judges when there are 7 of them.
Hopefully by bringing in a further ref we might have fewer mistakes.
Touch judges these days seem to be very apathetic.

That's not the same principle as the one for judging a knock-on.

Surely its the same for off side and yet they are allowed to be judged by the VR, all it needs to see is where the ball left the hands to where the ball was caught, the lines on the pitch will help with player positions.

nob

I'll have a pint of what you're on. All the replays show the ref at least 2 metres behind play. Raynor is behind Hall when he passes too.

And has to stretch to breaking point to gather the pass, such was it's foward motion!

It was forward, get over it.

raynors behind hall when he catches the ball ,end of story

I bow to your superior intellect & spectacular vocabulary.

PS: It was FORWARD. You LOST, AGAIN. Get over it,

7-3!

spot on great post

even bigger nob than i first thought

Even bigger vocabulary (just!) than I first thought.

Are you looking forward to 6 weeks off lessons?

agreed

PLEASE - DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS!!

SPECSAVERS. OPTICAL EXPRESS, VISION EXPRESS, anyone just go to anyone and then maybe you will see the game PROPERLEY,. instead of through red n white tinted specs

No, that's not how the legality of passes is judged.

Going back a good few seasons ago does anyone remember the Camera that sky used to use that went on a track and followed the players down the field?

why dont they bring that camera back, that used to follow the player with the ball and was directly in line with the ball. this will surley show if the ball is traveling forward or not from a pass.

The simplest way of using the VR to 'judge' forward passes would be to have a basic 'Hawkeye'-style system that measured the velocity of the ball. If the speed of the ball's movement towards the opponents try-line increases after it's released, it's a forward pass. Still not a massively simple solution, but it does take all ambiguity/subjectivity out of it.