Super League Video Referee Plans Scaled Back

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It has been confirmed that plans for a video referee, 'big screen' and enhanced production at every Super League game in 2022 have been scaled back.

In April 2021, Super League Executive Chairman Ken Davy said: "We are in discussions with a number of broadcast parties and one of the really exciting things about the new Sky deal is that there is going to be enhanced production coverage in 2022 and 2023 of every match so there is going to be a big screen and video referee potentially at every match going forward". Davy also confirmed that the additional production costs were accounted for in the value of the SKY TV deal announced last year.

With the start of the new season just weeks away, there had been no further comments from the league regarding these anticipated changes. The Tryline asked on Twitter whether the changes had been shelved for the 2022 season. Journalist Ian Laybourn investigated and received the following response from Super League:

"Super League has taken the decision to take further time to plan and implement these changes, therefore video referees and big screens will not be at every game for the start of the 2022 season".

ANALYSIS 

Whilst Ken Davy did not make an outright promise of a video referee, big screen and enhanced production coverage at every match from 2022 (caveated with the word 'potentially') it is still disappointing to hear the positive changes will not go ahead by the start of the new season.

It is more encouraging that Super League's statement today states that the changes will not be implemented for games at the start of the 2022 season. The reason for that is it is implied that the plans have not been shelved, merely delayed and may even be introduced mid-season.

The top two flights of men's football, the women's Super League (football version) and Rugby Union's Premiership all have several cameras at each game. This adds value to these leagues both in terms of a more professional output and by allowing more extensive highlights to be shown.

In 2007, there was a trial of a video referee at a non-televised Hull derby. No progress has been made since then. Whilst a further delay is not ideal, let's hope these plans do materialise. If they don't, Rugby League risks getting stuck in the past.

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