So, two referees in NRL games, and decisions are still shocking. What next then? Three referees? Four?

We fans are always going to look at things from a partisan perspective, so often when we say a referee has performed poorly, we mean he didn't give us any breaks. But there are several things a real referees' controller could get hold off quickly if he had a mind to.

The endless controversy about dummy runners interfering with defences near the line. Sometimes tries are given, sometimes they aren't. Every situation is different, granted ... but so many tries have been ruled out because of 'infringements' which never were. Common sense needs to be applied. Just because there was an off-the-ball collision somewhere along the defensive line, that does not necessarily constitute obstruction - the refs and the video refs are infuriatingly inconsistent over this, and should be given firm, sensible guidelines. The same applies to 'interference' at the play-the-ball. It shouldn't be as open to the referee's current interpretation as it appears to be. Did the guy interfere with his opposite number, or didn't he? Did he prevent him getting up or playing the ball? Simple questions. Putting a hand on a shoulder, etc, shouldn't count.

Other little things could be looked at. Video refs have no excuse for making mistakes, yet they do. If they can't see, they should return the decision to the match-referee. People like Richard Silverwood should not be asking the video ref what the penalty count is. That information is nothing to do with him, and should have no bearing on his control of the match. I'm sure there are other items too, but time isn't totally on my side today ...