Rugby league legends Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have devised a radical overhaul of the game’s refereeing system which they believe can fix the NRL.

The current two-referee system is a subject of constant criticism from fans and experts who believe there should only be one main on-field official to avoid confusion and hopefully keep the sport flowing.

The referees also have the NRL Bunker overseeing their decisions, and have communication coming through an earpiece during the game.

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Round 20

Johns told his podcast Freddy And The Eighth he wants the game to completely overhaul the system and try something never seen in the sport before.

“I’ve got an idea, where you have one referee who controls the 10 (metre line), he controls the game, and he’s got no one in his ear,” Johns said.

“Then you’ve got your (two) linesmen, and have two in-goal touch judges. They go up and down the field to the halfway line and they control the ruck.

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“They haven’t got a whistle. They control the ruck, that third man in. If the tackle has lost momentum they are screaming at the guy who’s going to come in ‘don’t you dare come in or you’re going to get penalised’.

“They haven’t got a whistle but they control the ruck, and the lead referee controls the game, the 10 metres.

“He has a feel for the game and he’s got no one in his ear, and they communicate like they did back in the dark ages, talking to each other.”

Johns wants to see the NRL trial the new system in the pre-season Charity Shield game between Dragons and Rabbitohs in Mudgee.

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The ARL competition committee is due to meet next week and discuss a number of potential changes to the game.

Fittler agreed entirely with his friend Johns on the radical referee system.

“(It’s) invaluable coming down to the in-goal area, I think you take a lot of interest away from the video referee in terms of obstructions and things like that,” Fittler said.

“Have someone down nice and low so they can see when the ball lands over the tryline.

“That would be ideal. Exactly the same idea as Joey.”

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On the podcast, Johns also advocated for video technology to have less influence on the game.

He wants the Bunker’s power to be completely scaled back and given to the men in the middle with whistles.