EXCLUSIVE: NRL forced to act over the wife of a referees coach sitting in the video ref box
EXCLUSIVE: 2GB and Wide World of Sports’ Mark Levy has revealed another refereeing controversy in the NRL, with referees coach Shayne Hayne at the centre of drama over the weekend.
The NRL on Wednesday confirmed to Levy that it has since dealt with a matter involving Hayne, who instructed the standby referee to sit on the touchline instead of fulfilling his duties in the video referee box at the ground during Sunday’s clash between the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles at Accor Stadium.
It’s understood the standby referee takes on an important task in the box by taking stats on the referees.
According to Levy, the wife of the referees’ coach was the one sitting in the box instead, and this isn’t the first time a similar incident has been brought forward.
“We can confirm it did happen and have received an explanation from the staff member involved,” the NRL said in a statement sent into 2GB.
“The matter has been dealt with appropriately.”
The latest drama continues a growing trend with refereeing incidents this month.
NRL Head of Elite Competitions Graham Annesley was forced to concede the league got it wrong back in Round 25 when Newcastle’s Daniel Saifiti was the beneficiary of a try coming from an eight-tackle set.
Levy has told Wide World of Sports “Who else sits upstairs in the box and are these distractions the reason why the referees are making mistakes?”
Hear more highlights from Wide World of Sports below: