The NRL could trial forward-pass technology as soon as this year after admitting Canberra were wronged by a crucial Warriors try at the weekend.
The NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley admitted referee Henry Perenara should have called a Kodi Nikorima pass forward on Saturday that led to a Ben Murdoch-Masila try.
The four-pointer helped the Warriors storm home, going from 31-16 down at the time with 21 minutes to play before winning 34-31.
Forward-pass technology has long been a desire for the league, with discussions ongoing with a developer for several years.
Part of the challenge remains that the technology must determine conclusively whether a ball left the hands forward, rather than if it travelled forward.
“We are making good process in terms of a potential development that could help solve this problem,” Annesley said.
“My intention is to trial and get a trial in this year.
“It won’t be at an NRL game but it could potentially be at a training session where where put the technology in place.”
A call would then be made on whether it could be used from next year, as well as how and when it would be implemented in matches.
“We could use the technology (trial) to convince ourselves of its validity and that it would work in our game and in our circumstances,” Annesley said.
“And (also) how quickly it would respond.
“If we can get to the point where we can be convinced the technology is accurate.
“Then it becomes a business case that we have to mount to the commission to justify the expenditure and the benefit that will flow from that.”
The NRL is also still investigating claims that Ricky Stuart swore at a referee following the call, which the Canberra coach has strongly denied.