LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Paul Gallen is calling for the NRL to implement mandatory post-match press conferences for referees to ensure they are held accountable for their decisions.
This comes in response to a weekend of controversial calls and growing frustration among NRL coaches over inconsistent officiating.
Gallen's plea follows the scrapping of Graham Annesley's weekly briefings and a directive for coaches to avoid commenting on referees.
He believes that officials should face public scrutiny just like players and coaches do, stating, "It's time for referees to step up and front the music like the rest of the game's key figures." This call for increased accountability comes after coaches such as Wayne Bennett, Ricky Stuart, and Cameron Ciraldo have voiced their concerns about various rulings, including hip-drop tackles, obstruction decisions, and a questionable penalty against Josh Curran.
The general sentiment among coaches is that referees need to be held to a higher standard and be transparent in their decision-making processes.
Gallen's push for post-match press conferences for referees reflects a desire for greater transparency and accountability within the NRL officiating system.