NRL continues trialing Hawk-Eye technology to aid video referees

THE NRL will press on with trials of other technology after testing Hawk-Eye as an aid to video referees.

The Hawk-Eye system, used most notably by tennis, was trialled under match conditions by the NRL on February 22, by video referees, including Henry Perenara.

The results from the real-time use of the technology were not used in the officiating the game, the World Club Challenge in which Sydney Roosters beat Wigan, but to check the system’s suitability in game circumstances.

Hawk-Eye would allow more rapid-fire decisions on try reviews than reviews possible television cameras and production staff.

But it would be a big additional expense for the NRL if used in entire premiership rounds.

In its main application to sport, Hawk-Eye has been used in capturing pictures from numerous cameras placed strategically around a sporting arena to produce an estimate of a ball’s proximity to a line on a field or court.

“We have been looking at some alternate technology for video refereeing,’’ NRL general manager of football operations Nathan McGuirk said.

“Hawkeye have a system where you can view multiple angles all at once.

“We did the trial in the World Club Challenge. It wasn’t used (to aid decisions made) in the game, but we were using it as if we were using it in the game.

“We are reviewing a couple of other systems that on the market as well. There are other providers.’’

The NRL has in the past trialled other technologies in efforts to get more calls right.

In 2011, GPS-tracking devices embedded in footballs, which were said by manufacturers to be accurate down to 1cm, were investigated in assisting in forward-pass decisions, but the NRL deciding against taking it up.

The Roosters-Rabbitohs game on Thursday night will be the first under the regime in which Tony Archer is NRL referees boss.

Archer, an experienced former first-grade coach, takes charge after Daniel Anderson’s resignation.

*Channel 9 says Darren Lockyer has agreed to terms for two more years commentating on their rugby league telecasts.

Nine head of sport Steve Crawley said Lockyer, who has appeared mainly in game-night panel discussions and sideline comments, would be used more in central match commentary in his third season with the network.

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