A proposal by National Rugby League Canterbury Coach Des Hasler to introduce an NFL-style video review system "that puts the onus back on the on-field officials for all decisions" was rejected by the NRL two years ago over concerns it would increase the pressure on referees, according to Stuart Honeysett of THE AUSTRALIAN. Hasler revealed he had first pitched the idea to then NRL CEO David Gallop and COO Graham Annesley in '10 and believed that "it was worth revisiting." Hasler said that he believes the NRL should adopt the same "instant replay" that the NFL uses, which can take place in the event of a close or controversial call, "either at the request of a team's head coach or the officials themselves." The referee is given 60 seconds to look over the instant replay of the play and make a decision on whether the original call was correct. The review usually occurs at a video monitor set up on the sideline. Hasler said that he would "raise the matter again at the NRL's annual end-of-season conference." Hasler: "Somehow we've got to set up the vision on the sideline for the two referees to go and look at the vision themselves." Football Operations Dir Nathan McGuirk welcomed Hasler's input and said that "it could be looked at again in the offseason," even if the NRL has rejected the idea in the past. McGuirk said, "I think it's great to see people within the game looking at positive ways to assist officials" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 9/19).
