NRL match officials are the umpires or referees who are in charge of making sure the rules are followed during a rugby league game. Their job is to make sure that the game is fair and safe for everyone playing.
In a rugby league game, there are usually three NRL match officials: the referee, the touch judge, and the video referee. These officials work together to make decisions and enforce the rules of the game.
The referee is the main official on the field. They wear a different colored shirt so that everyone knows who they are. The referee's job is to make sure that the players follow the rules. They watch the game closely and blow a whistle if they see a player do something against the rules, like knocking the ball forward or tackling someone without the ball.
The touch judge is also known as the sideline official. They stand on the sideline and help the referee make decisions. They use a flag or a raised hand to let the referee know if a player has gone out of bounds or if a player has done something against the rules that the referee may have missed.
The video referee is a special kind of match official that can be used in certain situations. They watch video replays of the game to help the referee make difficult decisions. If there is a close call, like whether a player scored a try or not, the video referee can watch the replay and give their opinion to the referee.
The NRL match officials all communicate with each other through headsets or radios. They talk to each other to make sure they are all on the same page and to help make the right decisions.
Sometimes, the match officials make mistakes just like anyone else. But they try their best to be fair and make the right calls. They have a very important job in keeping the game safe and making sure that everyone follows the rules.