LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The current state of NRL officiating has become a pressing concern as we approach the preliminary and grand finals. While this is not a new issue, it is clear that the substandard officiating in the game is the most significant problem right now.
In my weekly "20 Thoughts" column, I typically avoid discussing referee mistakes. I have consistently stated my belief that blaming referees for losses is a lazy approach taken by both coaches and fans.
However, the officiating blunders witnessed in 2025 are so egregious that they can no longer be overlooked-it's simply impossible to ignore them!
Before diving into specifics, I want to clarify that I am not referring to those contentious decisions that require multiple camera angles to ascertain their correctness. Such errors are bound to occur.
Referees are human and, as such, are prone to making mistakes. They don't possess superhuman abilities to see through players, nor do they have instant replay at their disposal.
What I am highlighting are the glaring mistakes!