KEY changes will be made to the way video referees adjudicate on tries during the 2026 season.
The controversial “live call” aspect has been altered to bring the process more into line with how the NRL operates, with the RFL Board confirming its approval today.
In next year’s Super League and other professional competitions in which video referees are involved, a try will be awarded by the on-field official while the video referee reviews the decision in the background without the game clock being stopped.
The conversion attempt will not be permitted until the VR is satisfied that the on-field decision of ‘try’ should not be overturned.
On any occasion where the VR has not finalised their review of the decision within 80 seconds of the try being awarded or before the kicker attempts the conversion, the referee will call ‘time off’.
If the on-field decision of ‘try’ is found to be incorrect, the referee will overturn the decision, and the game clock will be reset to the point in time that the referee blew the whistle to award the try.
If the on-field officials indicate ‘no try’ and require the decision to be reviewed, time will be called off and the decision will be referred to the video referee to adjudicate as per in previous years.
Another recommendation from the RFL’s Laws Committee to be approved is a 60-second ‘shot clock’ on penalties and conversions.
The clock will be started once the video referee review outcome is confirmed as ‘try’ and the ball must be kicked before the expiry of the shot clock.
If the kicking process is corrupted i.e. ball falls off the tee, the shot clock will be stopped and will not restart, with the kick allowed to take place.
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