RUGBY LEAGUE
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The NRL is planning a radical move which could see up to 10 officials controlling games as early as round one for the 2015 season.
The bold move will be tested for the first time at the annual Charity Shield clash between South Sydney and St George Illawarra on Saturday, when two referees will be joined by four sideline officials, two video referees plus two in-goal touch judges.
If successful, the extra match-day officials could be in use as early as round one according to referees' boss Tony Archer.
"At this stage we're only looking at it as an experiment," Archer said. "We have to see what is the best system. For us it's about looking to be the most accurate decision-makers we can be and to get as many decisions right.
"I don't know yet [if it will be in place for round one]. I need to see whether it's efficient and whether it adds to our decision-making. Without trialling it we aren't going to know. We have to assess its benefits post-game."
Two touch judges on either side of the field will help the main referee mark the 10 metres while the other two will be on hand to rule on forward passes. The pocket referee will continue to focus on the ruck and potential block plays while the in-goal touch judges will assist with try-scoring decisions.
In-goal touch judges have not been used since the NRL was formed in 1998.
Archer said the in-goal touch judges would help improve the accuracy of the on-field referees decision following the move for them to indicate if they believe a try has been scored before sending the decision to the video referee to adjudicate.
"Now we've moved to a live decision we want the referee to make a more informed and accurate live decision," Archer said.
"It may speed up the decision [process]. It certainly will have a more accurate live decision to assist the video referee. The video referee is a review process and sufficiency test for that video referee to overturn or confirm the live decision."
The NRL will experiment further throughout the trials period. The All-Stars match on February 13 on the Gold Coast will see the in-goal touch judges remain but there will be a return to the traditional two sideline officials.
Other trials will see four touch judges but no in-goal touch judges as Archer searches for the best system. While the in-goal touch judges won't be wired for communication to referees Adam Devich and Dave Munro on Saturday night, all other officials have a direct line of communication to the men in the middle.
Archer is confident the extra voices won't create confusion.
"We've worked really hard and have done trialling on this," Archer said. "The specific communication will be feed to the referee. There are more people with more voices, but there are specific roles for each."