Graham Annesley’s weekly briefings to explain refereeing decisions have been shelved in a bid to take the focus off whistleblowers and spare the NRL football boss what one club chief executive described as weekly “self-flagellation” sessions.
The NRL has confirmed that the regular Monday briefing – where head of elite football Annesley has explained contentious calls from each weekend since 2019 – won’t be a weekly feature this season.
Several clubs spoken to by this masthead were generally supportive of the move to blow the whistle on the weekly briefings when it was flagged as part of the NRL’s officiating overhaul.
The Monday media sessions were originally championed by Annesley under then-CEO Todd Greenberg in the name of transparency and countering criticism of referees.
However, the sessions have for some time been viewed as doing more harm than good in rugby league circles.
Numerous coaches have complained about a critical decision on game day and referenced a Monday mea culpa from Annesley, such as Knights coach Adam O’Brien’s “Graham will find a way to dress it up”, following a field goal drama against Cronulla last year.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley during one of his weekly media briefings.Credit: NRL Photos
“It felt like self-flagellation for Graham by the end,” one club chief executive said on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed the change, with football matters to be addressed by head office on a case-by-case basis.
“As part of the post-season review in 2024, we decided that we do not need to do the regular Monday football briefings,” Abdo said in a statement to this masthead.
“We will continue to update media, fans and clubs on significant football matters as required in the season”.
Annesley was also approached for comment. The NRL has tweaked several elements of its referees department, hiring ex-Rabbitohs staffer Brock Schafer to oversee the game’s refereeing ranks, as well as the Kangaroos and Jillaroos high-performance programs.
Referees boss Jared Maxwell has been freed up from day-to-day management duties to focus on the NRL Bunker and accuracy of decisions. Both still report to Annesley.
Annesley’s media briefings were notable when first introduced in that controversial decisions were explained for the first time in a public forum, streamed live on the NRL website.
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould led criticism of the briefings last year which echoed similar sentiments in AFL, where football boss Laura Kane’s explanations were claimed to be drawing added attention to umpiring calls.
“The only people who found it refreshing were media,” Gould said on Nine’s 100% Footy last August. “People involved in the game knew what was going to happen with that, and it would just become relentless
“I don’t think it’s a good look for the game, I don’t think Graham should have to do it. I don’t think it does the game any justice and they shouldn’t be doing it. Simple as that.”
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