NRL looking to adopt hawk-eye technology to rule on forward passes

[GCBRONCO]

NRL to adopt Hawk-Eye for Forward Passes

Following a weekend dominated by contentious forward passes the NRL has vowed to adopt new technology to give fans more of a definitive response to rulings on the field, according to News Corp.

Several controversial rulings had fans spewing over the inconsistency with technology in the game. The Warriors were robbed when a forward pass was called on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for what would have been a match-winning try against the Eels.

The Storm's golden point loss to Manly hinged on a forward pass which led to Daly Cherry-Evans kicking the match-winning field goal in the next set.

Braidon Burns' pass to winger Campbell Graham in Souths' win on Friday night was questionable at best and Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson was left scratching his head after playmaker Cooper Cronk was denied a try in the third minute of Sunday's 20-12 win over Canterbury after James Tedesco's last pass was ruled forward.

NRL chiefs have set the wheels in motion to introduce Hawk-Eye technology to track the movement pf the ball as it leaves the player's hands during a try-scoring moment.


League officials are keen to embrace the same technology utilised by tennis for close line calls, the EPL for offside play and cricket's use of it to judge lbw decisions.

“The only way we can be 100 per cent certain and consistent with forward passes is with this Hawk-Eye technology,” NRL head of football Graham Annesley said.

"The company’s engineers have told us they can develop a system where it can identify even in the closest margins if the ball has been thrown backwards or forwards from a player’s hands.

 

[Browny]

This is the same organisation that can’t implement the offside line ala the A League so watch them stuff this up

 

[Huge]

Total bullshit. Oh, not the technology but this amateurish bunch promised a moving virtual ten metre line but realised it exposed the referees and their bias towards certain teams. I vomited one year when the cheat Harrigan pinged the Broncos for a ten metre infringement, gifting the game to the opposition. They were 13 metres onside. Some of these refs subconsciously support different teams as most grew up having a favourite team. I hope they do bring in a tracker and show a video with dozens of simulated passes, perhaps even in a few trial or preseason practice matches.

 

[Morkel]

This is the same organisation that can’t implement the offside line ala the A League so watch them stuff this up

This. Except I'm skeptical as to whether they couldn't implement it, or whether they decided against it because of how badly it would expose the refs' officiating.

This one will be far more difficult, because I don't really know if there is a way to rule how they want to rule it. The actual rule is that it can't be passed forward. To officiate that would be easy. But because they want to allow marginal passes where it "floats" forward, they've adopted this "backwards out of the hands" policy. What that means is, it allows for the forward-momentum of a player running. Unfortunately, in real life, people are going to see exactly how forward passes will actually be thrown while still qualifying for this. If a player is at full-speed, and they pass it long, a pass that takes 2 seconds to reach it's target will be able to travel 20 metres forward point-to-point as that's how far the forward-momentum of the player will account for. Those in charge will surely realise at that point that the it's too much for the public to stomach, even if it's technically what they are supposedly now trying to rule on.

I see them going multiple ways:
* They adopt the "backwards from the hands" rule and it descends in to a farce as fans won't stomach it.
* They realise how forward passes actually go with the above, so adopt a more black & white "no forward passes" rule.
* They do something arbitrary and allow a certain (undisclosed) margin of error to allow the slightly-forward passes.
* Most likely: They give up and it quietly disappears in to the ether like the 10 metre rule overlay.

 

[tommy]

* They adopt the "backwards from the hands" rule and it descends in to a farce as fans won't stomach it.

I was under the impression this already was the rule.

 

[Culhwch]

I like this move. The NRL are creating jobs. They're gonna need to hire a guy to sit there and switch it off every time Cameron Smith passes the ball.

 

[Nashy]

I suppose the excellent Bunker will be watching the Hawke Eye too.

 

[Foordy]

firstly, they shouldn't just be worried about forward passes during try scoring moments, but at any time on the footy field.

secondly this technology isn't needed, the need to do two things to ensure most forward passes are picked up (unlike right now where most are let go)

1. get rid of this BS backwards out of the hand rule. it's makes it extremely hard on officials (and next to impossible for touchies) to pick up. it only leads to inconsistent rulings ... go back to simply if the ball travels forward it is a forward pass ... simple.

2. go back to touchies aligning themselves with the ball like they did when i was a kid. it puts them in perfect position to judge on forward passes (they never let as many go then as they do today) ... with 2 refs on the field, there should be absolutely no need for the touchies to mark the 10m anymore.

 

[Maddy1to9]

They don’t need the technology to tell them which ones a forward pass. They fuckin have to watch our last game against Titans. Way too many Titans forward passes & dropped balls were let go.

They should watch the replay once - they will know what a forward pass & dropped balls are.
Watch the replay multiple times -they become experts in determining forward passes & dropped balls.

Total garbage from the NRL. Bunch of headless chooks trying to pull something out of rabbits head just to cover up their fuckups.

 

[Super Freak]

1. get rid of this BS backwards out of the hand rule. it's makes it extremely hard on officials (and next to impossible for touchies) to pick up. it only leads to inconsistent rulings ... go back to simply if the ball travels forward it is a forward pass ... simple.

It's not that simple. You have to take momentum into account.

 

[theshed]

They should put a ref on each sideline who stays in line with the play so they can determine whether the pass is forward or not.

 

[Morkel]

It's not that simple. You have to take momentum into account.

I agree with Foordy though. Make it that simple. Do not take momentum in to account. It not only becomes easier to officiate, especially in an automated process, but is also in line with everything else in the game. The don't allow knock-ons to be okay if you allow for momentum.

 

[Huge]

I agree with Foordy though. Make it that simple. Do not take momentum in to account. It not only becomes easier to officiate, especially in an automated process, but is also in line with everything else in the game. The don't allow knock-ons to be okay if you allow for momentum.

Really? No allowance for momentum? Surely you jest!! If you had two players running at the same top speed, one 5 metres behind and 15 metres away a pass thrown backwards would still travel 'forward' !!!

 

[Battler]

How do they factor the Cam Smith exclusive 3m forward out of dummy half allowance into this technology?

EDIT:

I like this move. The NRL are creating jobs. They're gonna need to hire a guy to sit there and switch it off every time Cameron Smith passes the ball.

Beat me to it lol.

 

[Culhwch]

The morons don’t even allow knock backs these days. I’m skeptical of anything the NRL does.

Not true. If a team needs a leg up, they'll often call a blatant knock on a knock back. So long as that team isn't us.

 

[Morkel]

Really? No allowance for momentum? Surely you jest!! If you had two players running at the same top speed, one 5 metres behind and 15 metres away a pass thrown backwards would still travel 'forward' !!! Mind you, I know you'd believe anything that suits.

I don't get your point. Yes it would go forwards in that scenario. So the support runner should stand deeper if they want to collect a legal pass.

 

[tommy]

firstly, they shouldn't just be worried about forward passes during try scoring moments, but at any time on the footy field.

secondly this technology isn't needed, the need to do two things to ensure most forward passes are picked up (unlike right now where most are let go)

1. get rid of this BS backwards out of the hand rule. it's makes it extremely hard on officials (and next to impossible for touchies) to pick up. it only leads to inconsistent rulings ... go back to simply if the ball travels forward it is a forward pass ... simple.

2. go back to touchies aligning themselves with the ball like they did when i was a kid. it puts them in perfect position to judge on forward passes (they never let as many go then as they do today) ... with 2 refs on the field, there should be absolutely no need for the touchies to mark the 10m anymore.

Weren't you adamant it can't travel forwards if it is passsed backwards anyway?

 

[Unbreakable]

I don't get your point. Yes it would go forwards in that scenario. So the support runner should stand deeper if they want to collect a legal pass.

It would be interesting to see how this would actually look in a practical game scenario, for example Addo-Carr running at top speed down the touchline looking to pass in-field to Munster 25 metres away, how far backwards would he theoretically have to throw the ball for it not to end up in front of where he released the ball?

I don't think it'd be physically possible without him having to slow down considerably to throw it.