Footy fans shocked after data shows NRL officials make RIGHT decision over 99 per cent of the time
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Footy fans attacking umpires report with data showing NRL officials make the CORRECT decision more than 99 per cent of the time
- NRL Data revealed that referees are often correct in their decisions
- Grant Atkins said that officials are always looking to minimize mistakes.
- With large television audiences, mistakes are highly scrutinized.
Soccer fans who have been quick to criticize the refereeing standard in the NRL have been stunned after data revealed that they make the right decisions more than 99 per cent of the time.
Chief referee Grant Atkins said the statistics showed that referees are generally right, despite making repeated crucial decisions under fatigue.
The cumulative data did not include decisions by the NRL Bunker.
Atkins has officiated 232 NRL games, 19 test matches and also worked at the NRL Bunker as a video referee during the 2021 and 2022 grand finals.
After every NRL match, the referees receive detailed feedback on their individual performance.
Football fans were stunned after data revealed NRL referees make the right decisions more than 99 per cent of the time (Sea Eagles’ Daly Cherry-Evans pictured with referee Grant Atkins)
Many NRL managers are scathing in their post-game assessment of referees: Raiders manager Ricky Stuart is the most vocal, with $160,000 in career fines dating back to 2002
Comprehensive video analysis of their decisions allows them to see what worked well and what areas need improvement.
The analysis includes areas such as play the ball, if the markers are square when defending, if the tackles are dangerous or late and the cases of coup de grace.
“You’re seeing on average about 30 passive decisions, so there are 270 to 300 snaps per game,” Atkins said. Fox sports.
‘Up to 30 passive decisions, with around 285 ball plays per game, equates to a lot, around 8500 decisions per game.
“We’re sitting around five or six errors a game, on all those passive decisions… these are decisions that a referee has to make every time the ball is played, until the next tackle.”
Referees in the NRL know full well if they produce a howl the world is watching, whether on the ground or on TV.
That is precisely why they always seek to minimize their margin of error.
“The most important thing about us as NRL officials is that we work very hard to identify and admit that these mistakes have been made,” Atkins added.
“As you keep reviewing the process and find out why mistakes were made, you should see continuous improvement.”
Many frustrated NRL managers are scathing in their post-game assessment of referees if decisions went against them.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is arguably the most vocal, with $160,000 in rushing fines dating back to 2002.
Questioning the performance of officials at press conferences usually results in fines of $10,000 from the NRL, especially when the integrity of referees is questioned.