Billy Slater backs calls for NRL to go back to one referee amid financial crisis
NRL legend Billy Slater has backed calls for the league to go back to a single referee, as the league looks at ways to cut costs amid the coronavirus-induced financial crisis.
Along with cutting staff at individual clubs, the NRL could be forced to cut back on referees and possibly The Bunker as it aims to get back on its feet after the current layoff.
Speaking on Nine Radio, while Slater admitted that it would be tough to see referees lose their jobs, he suggested that going back to one referee would be a good result for the game.
"I don't mind it. I like the one referee. I think the decisions are more consistent," he said.
"You only get one person's interpretation of the whole game and maybe even there's no video ref.
Could we see the NRL go back to a single referee when play resumes after the coronavirus crisis? Getty
"Go back to the old days where you get some excitement in the game and we can talk about the bad decisions and all that kind of stuff.
"The flip-side to that is that some people are going to lose their jobs. We've got a lot of referees that have put a lot of time and effort into building a career in our game and we're going to be cutting some jobs there.
"I don't mind going back to one referee. Let's strip the game back and start fresh."
While he backed the cuts to the NRL's referee ranks, Slater warned that cutting back on coaching staff at clubs would result in a less professionalism in the game.
"I think it will get to that (one assistant coach and one physio per club)," he said.
Will it be possible for clubs to develop stars such as Kalyn Ponga with less staff? Getty
"The financial crisis that we're all going to face, rugby league is certainly not going to be immune to that and there are going to be job losses. In job losses you're going to have less professionalism within the ranks.
"I think developing our players is essential and having less coaches will certainly effect that.
"It will be possible and we'll be able to get a product on the field, there's no doubt about that, but having less coaches and having less staff in and around football clubs will affect the professionalism of the game.
"I think it's inevitable that it's going to happen, but I don't think it's the best for the game."
Speaking after the NRL offered the players a rescue package including a 50 percent salary cut over the next seven months, Slater described the package as a "huge win" for the players.
Slater described the NRL's rescue package as a 'huge win' for the players Getty
"Finally we get a little bit of certainty in an uncertain environment that we're all going through," he said.
"The NRL have jumped on the front foot and put this package together, which is a great package. I think the clubs would be happy with this package and I think the players would certainly be happy with a 50 percent pay reduction over the next seven months.
"They've still been paid five months in full so they're still going to get three quarters of their wage in 2020 so that's a huge win for the players.
"Let's remember the players, they went and put their bodies on the line when the game needed them to.
"The Warriors stayed here in Australia away from their families and these players were travelling interstate and putting themselves and their families at more risk of going and interacting with other people, so they deserve what they're getting and I think everyone wins out of this situation."
