Robert Finch to resign

[Jeba]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 66,00.html

Referees boss Robert Finch quits post after eight years
By Dean Ritchie
September 01, 2010
Robert Finch has finally had enough and will step down as NRL referees coach at the end of the season.

After a turbulent eight-year reign overseeing the refereeing ranksFinch will walk away after the October 3 grand final.

The constant public and media scrutiny on referees has taken a toll on the former St George centre.

Poor on-field performances by referees this year have not helped Finch's enthusiasm for the job.

NRL match review committee chairman Greg McCallum is favoured to take over the role, although fellow former referees Bill Harrigan and Steve Clark will also be contenders for one of the toughest jobs in the game.

On Tuesday, Finch had to yet again apologise for a refereeing blunder at the weekend.

Video referee Sean Hampstead has since been sacked from first grade for his error in awarding a try to Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall despite Sea Eagles centre Steve Matai being tackled without the ball in the same movement.

The NRL is yet to officially be told that Finch will step down.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said: "We haven't addressed the issue regarding the referees coach beyond this season. We have said openly to Robert that we will discuss it at the end of the season."

Finch has the full support of the referees but some privately feel it is time for a change after eight years.

The major issue confronting the NRL will be whether they appoint a former referee or an ex-first grade coach as Finch's replacement.

It's possible two of the three former referees, current NRL match review committee chairman McCallum, referees coaching assistant Harrigan and referee reviewer Clark, could work together in a partnership.

McCallum had six successful years as referees boss in the English Super League.

Harrigan and Clark are respected in the refereeing ranks, Harrigan adjudicating a record 10 grand finals.

 

[Flutterby]

Whoever takes over I hope they give the referees scope to use their own initiative and common sense rather than ruling everything either black or white

 

[ningnangnong]

Whoever takes over I hope they give the referees scope to use their own initiative and common sense rather than ruling everything either black or white

Word. All I ask is that they use logic! Just think about it and make a sensible decision. Bugger off this black and white stuff thing they've got happening. It's terrible.

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

[icon_drun [icon_drun

 

[Kimlo]

Would have been more satisfying if he was sacked tbh :P

 

[Kaz]

Strange he quits not long after his son announces he is going to the UK. [icon_wink

 

[Anonymous person]

as long as harrigan doesnt get the job ill be happy.

if harrigan gets the job he'll change it so the video referee cant rule knock ons either, as he has enough trouble spotting them himself.

 

[Je$ter]

The retardedness of the referees today was only further proved when Steve 'porcelain' Matai didn't get sent off.

 

[Flutterby]

Agree re the stripping rule Rock. A lot of the time the ball carrier knows that if the defence has their hand anywhere in the vicinity of the ball (whether they are trying to strip it or not), they can just let go of the ball and get 'rewarded' with a penalty.

 

[Anonymous person]

Don't write off Harrigan. He is one of the very few refs of our time that used common sense and discretion. I think he'd do a good job.

LOL!

harrigan has proven to be the referee most likely to make a stupid and blatantly incorrect decision just so he gets himself some attention. look back at all the big 'wtf?' decisions over the last decade, and his name is next to 90% of them.

he DID use common sense and discretion, until everyone from south of the border started calling him 'Broncos Biased'. since then, common sense and discretion went out the window.

 

[Coxy]

I don't think Harrigan's the right man for the job. Not due to lack of ability, but the fact, as AP says, he's very much an individualist. I doubt he's a team player. I doubt he's a leader.

 

[Flutterby]

Bill Harrigan and former Cronulla Sharks boss Stuart Raper have been appointed head of NRL referees for 2011 in a dual coaching capacity, replacing Robert Finch who retired from the post.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl- ... 5955072847

 

[Coxy]

I'm happy with that. You've got a retired referee (who, let's face it...was probably the best referee we've had in decades) who can educate the referee's based on his own experience and a former player and former coach who can educate the referee's with regards to apply descretion and common sense to a situation on the rugby league field.

I would agree except for the fact Bill Harrigan was the one coming up with the interpretations that pissed us all off. Like no separation etc.

He was as much to blame as Finch.

 

[Anonymous person]

quite frankly i think its a stupid decision to have Harrigan in that position.

hes biased, has an ego bigger than Mundines, and just likes getting his face on tv.

 

[Coxy]

quite frankly i think its a stupid decision to have Harrigan in that position.

hes biased, has an ego bigger than Mundines, and just likes getting his face on tv.

I'm curious...biased towards who?

 

[Anonymous person]

quite frankly i think its a stupid decision to have Harrigan in that position.

hes biased, has an ego bigger than Mundines, and just likes getting his face on tv.

I'm curious...biased towards who?

everyone thats not Queensland.

 

[Coxy]

[quote="Anonymous person":30uow1sd]quite frankly i think its a stupid decision to have Harrigan in that position.

hes biased, has an ego bigger than Mundines, and just likes getting his face on tv.

I'm curious...biased towards who?

everyone thats not Queensland.[/quote:30uow1sd]

LOLZ, ok.

 

[Anonymous person]

[quote="Anonymous person":13csvtqv]quite frankly i think its a stupid decision to have Harrigan in that position.

hes biased, has an ego bigger than Mundines, and just likes getting his face on tv.

I'm curious...biased towards who?

everyone thats not Queensland.

LOLZ, ok.[/quote:13csvtqv]
ever since all the NSW media started the 'Broncos Bill' name because of our great record under him - mind you, this was at a time when the Broncos just had a brilliant team - he just seemed to go out of his way to over penalise Brisbane/QLD, and get all sorts of decisions blatantly wrong, to basically prove he wasnt biased towards them. and its carried on to this day. hes not intentionally biased, but he goes so far to show that hes not biased that he over-compensates for it.

look back at pretty much all of the big 100% incorrect calls in state of origin/broncos matches and youll see a mr b harrigan as one of the referees.