How did we get to this: the NRL bunker and video refereeing won't ever eliminate all errors. Credit:Matthew Vasilescu I hate the video referee. I hate the whole concept of it. I have argued against the use of technology ever since it was first introduced simply because I could see it as a thin and of a large wedge. Once they started down this road they were never going to stop. Now, as predicted, the blokes in the bunker have begun interfering with the run of play, calling out instructions to referees on the run, and overturning rulings during the course of the game. They still don't know how to deal with obstruction. It is ridiculous that they keep trying to put themselves in the minds of the players and predict what might have been. I am prepared to debate this point with anyone, anywhere, anytime.

You cannot referee this game from a TV screen. The only things the video referee should be allowed to deal with are the black and white rulings. For instance, whether or not a foot or ball touches a sideline, or to check if a ball has been properly grounded for a try. Right from the start I have said that referring obstruction rules for analysis by a video referee is fraught with danger. Some of the decisions we have seen delivered by the video referees on obstruction interpretations have been farcical. They are indefensible. Right from the start I said that the new bunker will give us quicker decisions courtesy of the new technology and the fact the video referees are highly motivated to come to quicker conclusions.

But it was always going to be the case that the same troubles that plagued the video referees sitting in the grandstands were going to come back and haunt them in their Redfern bunker. I have nothing against the referees and I know they are trying their hardest. I know the people behind this technology believe in it and they think that it's best for the game. But ever since we introduced it to rugby league, it has tail-spun out of control. The horse has bolted on this. They will never go backwards on this ridiculous video refereeing journey. It's a shame because I think video refereeing and the way it is used is a blight on our game. No one can convince me otherwise. The NRL judiciary is starting to use common sense

Many people have commented on the fact that in recent times large number of players have had success at NRL judiciary hearings proving themselves innocent of the charges brought against them. Some are questioning whether or not the judiciary members have suddenly gone soft. I prefer to go the other way. I would hope it's a sign that the judiciary now understands that a large number of the charges being brought against players do not warrant any further action than what has already been administered by the referee on the field. I have argued for many years that the points penalties for minor offences are too harsh and that many players have been unnecessarily suspended. We don't want to be suspending players and I don't see too many instances of reckless or deliberate acts in our game anymore. So much so that the really bad incident really stands out as something that needs to be punished. On the vast majority of occasions, a penalty on the field is sufficient. We always have to be mindful of discouraging illegal and violent actions.

In the main though, common-sense should prevail when dealing with run-of-the-mill indiscretions. These should never lead to suspensions, nor should an accumulation of points for minor offences. Players should only miss games as a result of reckless, dangerous or deliberate acts. Consistency required: Josh Reynolds and the Bulldogs have been hit and miss. Credit:Brendon Thorne Jekyll and Hyde Dogs I don't want to take anything away from the outstanding performance by the Canberra Raiders in belting the Bulldogs at Belmore on Monday. The boys in green were powerful, purposeful and precise, and thoroughly deserved their victory. However, the performance of the home side displayed yet again the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this Canterbury side.

You never really know what you're going to get. Some days they are absolutely brilliant and can overpower any team in this competition. At other times they look slow, cumbersome and disinterested. I have no doubt that individually every player tried as hard as they could on Monday night, but as a team they just didn't function. Next weekend they travel south to take on Melbourne. It wouldn't surprise if they blow the Storm off the park and record a huge win. They are more than capable. But one has to wonder what gets into their head sometimes when they play as badly as they did this week. I still think the Bulldogs are a genuine premiership threat. It is stating the bleeding obvious though to say they need far greater consistency. Cowboys have only improved

The North Queensland Cowboys, despite losing their only two away games this season, are a much more accomplished outfit than the one that won the 2015 title. Not only have they retained their entire premiership winning team, which is so difficult to do in the salary cap era, but there appears to be no obvious premiership hangover that has plagued so many previous champions. They have just four players over 30 years of age (Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, and Ben Hannant and Gavin Cooper) and not one of those appears to have played a season too long. The level of confidence amongst the playing group is there for all to see. I can see improvement in just about every member of their top squad. Their yardage game is by far the best in the competition and if they can remain as injury free as they have been in recent times, they really can be the first team this century to win back-to-back competitions. Test selections loom

In the coming weeks, new Australian coach Mal Meninga will choose an Australian team to face the Kiwis in Newcastle in early May. It is worth remembering that the Kangaroos have lost their last two Test matches, the most recent being to New Zealand by 26-12 last May in Brisbane. At that time nine players in that Australian squad were over 30 years of age and I have argued in this column previously that if Australia is to successfully defend the World Cup next year, it cannot do so with the bulk of their 2013 squad, which was already ageing back then. Whilst beaten in the series against England in the off season, the Kiwis were missing several key players, in particular their first-choice halves pairing of Shaun Johnson and Keiran Foran. They will be very formidable opposition in Newcastle with those two players and a number of others available for selection. There is no doubt that in the upcoming tournaments such as this year's Four Nations and next year's World Cup they look the country to beat.

Hopefully, Meninga and his panel take this opportunity to look now at the players they think can win them the World Cup next year and pick the best 17 of those for this year's Anzac Test. Better times ahead: The likes of Latrell Mitchell mean the Roosters have a bright future. Credit:Getty Images It's going to take time for the Roosters A sixth successive loss this Friday night to South Sydney would result in the Sydney Roosters suffering their worst start to a season since 1966. With only a five-day break after the golden point loss to the Warriors last Sunday, the Roosters face an uphill battle away from home against the Rabbitohs to prevent such a sequence of losses occurring.

Their current predicament though is not all that surprising. Losing players of the calibre of James Maloney, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Michael Jennings in the off season was always going to leave a massive hole, but when coupled with the long term absence of Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Boyd Cordner, it is a situation no team could overcome in such a short space of time. However, in Jackson Hastings (20), Jayden Nikorima (19), Latrell Mitchell (18) and Connor Watson (their 19-year-old 18th man from Sunday), the Roosters have some of the best young talent in the game. With a few more games behind them, and the eventual return of their team leaders, the Roosters have the capacity to win more games than they lose between now and the end of the season. Phil Gould is the general manager of football, Penrith Panthers.