Thurston's radio silence plea

Candid audio of player interactions with referees has given league fans unprecedented access to the playing field.

But Queensland star Johnathan Thurston has called for periods of radio silence, saying some conversations should be off the menu for television viewers.

Relations between players and referees has been thrust into the spotlight after the State of Origin opener, prompted by a bitter New South Wales backlash to a series of decisions they believe cost them the game.

The next day's coverage of the 18-10 Queensland victory was laced with exchanges between Blues captain Paul Gallen and officials Ben Cummins and Matt Cecchin, with Gallen's anguish clear as he vented at the pair of whistleblowers.

At one point he told the duo: "This is out of control. This is ridiculous". After the first-half brawl which saw Michael Jennings sent to the sin bin, he asked: "Are you for real? Sam Thaiday has been running in for years doing that."

Thurston, who captains his NRL side in North Queensland but leaves the talking for Queensland to Cameron Smith, understands the appeal of wired-up referees to broadcasters. But he also believes there should be avenues for players talk to officials without the world tuning in to every word.

"I'm not a fan of the refs wearing the mic so everyone can hear what's going on. But that's the way the game has gone,” Thurston said.

Thurston concedes he hasn't always had a dream run with officials. In 2010, he narrowly escaped suspension after he launched an expletive-ridden rant at referee Jason Robinson.

But he said his relationship with referees has generally been productive. Still, he believes a forum outside of earshot to viewers – or filtering out the occasional spirited diatribe – would be beneficial to the player/referee dynamic.

“When you're losing, you just want to get the result that you want and sometimes that doesn't happen. So, it can be frustrating," Thurston said.

“I suppose you need to just take a deep breath. It's a physical game and when you're in the heat of the battle, things are said that should stay out there.”

Thurston isn't the only one in the game who believes a more measured approach to what is and isn't broadcast could be investigated.

Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg went in to bat for his club's skipper Michael Ennis last week after the Bulldogs hooker used some colourful language during a heated exchange with referee Jason Robinson.

That outburst, along with another spray from Roosters captain Braith Anasta, prompted referees coaches Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper – both retained yesterday after the post-Origin fallout – to call for players to show officials a greater degree of respect.

But Greenberg said there had to be some onus on broadcasters to understand that a passionate, physical game was bound to occasionally provoke some language not fit for church or children.

"In a perfect world those things wouldn't be happening," Greenberg told The Australian newspaper.

"But there also has to be some onus and responsibility on the broadcasters. This is a highly charged game and I think it's also important we remember he wasn't swearing at the referee.

"The concept of having microphones on referees is to try to bring the viewer into the live experience. We don't want our players being robots on the field. There is a bit of learning in it for all of us."

Former NRL referee Tim Mander, now a member of the Queensland Parliament, said players simply had to adjust to a situation where every word they utter is for potential public consumption.

He said players needed to learn to communicate to referees without swearing or being abusive, just as referees have had to chance the way they talk to players since the introduction of on-field microphones.

"The reality of today, in professional sport, is that technology allows this type of exposure in all the top sports. We have to accept that and I believe modify our behaviour. It's meant that referees have to change their manner," Mander said.

"Many of the referees probably spoke in inappropriate ways to players. I think the broadcasting of those interactions has been a great way to improve their communications skills.

"I think the players have to understand this, they have to accept it and they have a responsibility to speak appropriately on the field when dealing with officials.

"Of course, at times, they are going to be agitated and hot tempered. But I'd like to think that you don't have to swear and carry on to convey your point to a referee."

Sports around the world are divided as to how much of the interaction during play is available to viewers and listeners.

Super Rugby provides on-field audio that is monitored and controlled by an audio director in the broadcast box, who turns the microphone volume up and down depending on the moment.

FIFA forbids microphones on its referees, with the only discussions occasionally picked up by directional microphones on the sideline.

The lack of audio may have been a good thing during the A-League grand final, when Perth Glory players bombarded referee Jarred Gillett with their thoughts on the controversial penalty that saw Besart Berisha sent to the spot.

In the US, referees have had wireless microphones since 1994 to explain and clarify decisions, which are heard over loud speakers at ground and in broadcast.

NBA referees are free of audio equipment although viewers can hear occasional discussions when they are near the scorer's table for video reviews.