The NRL has scrapped its Monday media briefings, ending a long-running initiative where head of elite football Graham Annesley publicly explained refereeing decisions.
The move, confirmed by chief executive Andrew Abdo, means the league will no longer provide a weekly platform for dissecting controversial calls.
The briefings, introduced in 2019 under then-CEO Todd Greenberg, were designed to promote transparency and educate fans on key officiating rulings. However, over time, they became a flashpoint for criticism, with clubs and coaches increasingly frustrated by explanations that often did little to change perceptions.
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Several clubs have welcomed the decision, believing the sessions placed excessive focus on referees and turned into an exercise in damage control rather than clarity.
NRL ditches weekly explanations
“As part of the post-season review in 2024, we decided that we do not require the regular Monday football briefings,” Abdo said in a statement to NewsWire. “We will continue to update media, fans and clubs on significant football matters as required in the season.”
One club chief executive, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald on the condition of anonymity, described the briefings as “self-flagellation” for Annesley, suggesting they did more harm than good.
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Newcastle Knights coach Adam O’Brien also dismissed the process last year after a contentious refereeing call. “Graham will find a way to dress it up,” he said following a late-game controversy against Cronulla.
Meanwhile, the League has also made broader changes to its officiating department, hiring former South Sydney staffer Brock Schafer to oversee refereeing operations and shifting referees boss Jared Maxwell into a role focused on the NRL Bunker and decision accuracy.
While the weekly sessions are gone, the NRL has indicated that major refereeing decisions will still be explained on a case-by-case basis. Whether that approach will satisfy frustrated clubs and fans remains to be seen.