SEN’s Cameron Smith has called for the NRL to remove the controversial captain’s challenge altogether as it has added a layer of confusion and grey areas for referees.
The captain’s challenge was in the spotlight again following the chaotic finish to the North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers game which saw the Cowboys escape with an improbable win.
Smith said that the captain’s challenge has moved away from its original intention of overruling incorrect decisions and mutated into a player tactic.
“Scrap it,” Smith declared on SEN 1170 The Captain’s Run.
“I’ve said it before. Scrap it. Just get rid of it.
“Players are on to it now (and) when players know the referee got a call wrong or missed the call, they will come running from 20 metres away and lay in the tackle.
“Coaches and players have found a way to manipulate it and they aren’t breaking the rules.
“They are playing within the rules that the NRL gave them, but it’s now changed our game.
“It’s a thing we introduced as a bit of a gimmick.
“Please get rid of it.”
The NRL ticked off on referee Chris Butler’s decision to allow the Cowboys to use a captain’s challenge despite the final siren sounding before the request.
Head of football Graham Annesley also confirmed that a challenge can be called for any stoppage in play which SEN’s Denan Kemp found bemusing.
“(Annesley) said you can challenge at any stoppage in the game,” Kemp said on SEN 1170 The Captain’s Run.
“I’m not sure that has been the case in the past.
“There have been other times where people have gone up to challenge and the ref says you can’t challenge because of whatever reason.
“I thought you had to be challenging a specific call.
“We try to make things more simple but it’s made things more complicated.
“I am very confused as to what the captain’s challenge system is now.”
For now, the captain's challenge is to stay despite the backlash.