Former allies blow whistle on NRL referees' boss Tony Archer on Facebook

By Steve Mascord
Updated April 24 2016 - 5:33pm, first published 3:18pm

Referees coach Tony Archer doesn't understand obstruction, players need only take a dive to stop a try and it's "a sad day for footy and its fans". That's the view of former first grade player and referee Luke Phillips, expressed on Facebook over the weekend and shared on social media by others in the officiating fraternity. "The bunker has now made obstruction black and white," Phillips wrote. "No point having ex footballers in their [sic] now. The refs have a refs boss who has no idea on obstruction. And can only understand black and white. Players only need to take a dive now to get a penalty. Sad day for footy and its fans. Pattern [sic - Luke] and [Ben] Galea are now just button pushers." Among the commenters was former top ref Paul McBlane, who wrote – in part – "Had enough of this crap".

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