NRL Reverts to One-Ref Model

In a major revelation for rugby league officiating and the game as a whole, the NRL has today announced the decision to revert back to the one referee model for the remainder of the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership.

Under the changes full-time referees will also be used as touch judges to increase the experience in touchline officiating.

In tandem with the return to a single referee – which was how the game was officiated prior to 2009 – is a "six-again" rule allowing an attacking team another full set rather than stopping play for a penalty.

At the end of the year, the Commission will review the one-referee model to determine whether it remains a permanent fixture for future seasons.

Whilst the rule changes are not set to be implemented at a community level, the use of the one referee system will now provide a closer alignment to the systems currently used by community referees in Parramatta and across all grassroots districts.