Rugby league referees boss Silvio Del Vecchio has assured the NRL that match officials won't boycott the planned season restart next week.
But at the same time, he was fired a broadside at competition administrators over a mandate to cut the number of referees from two to one per game.
NRL chairman Peter V'landys has pushed ahead with the reduced ref allocation as part of the revamped schedule, suspended two months ago, when the coronavirus pandemic closed state and international borders.
V'landys insists the measure will make game faster and more free-flowing, while also reducing costs to the financially reeling code.
Professional Rugby League Match Officials will take the matter to a Fair World Commission hearing this weekend, but chairman Del Vecchio insists - whatever the outcome - his referees will preside over the opening round of games.
"We are committed to our great game, and to keeping it both exciting and safe," he says. "If we lose the next hearing in the Fair Work Commission, we will be on the field with one referee on May 28.
"But if we are successful, we expect that the NRL will respect that decision, and have two referees on the field in Round Three and beyond."
Del Vecchio has blasted V'landys and his organisation for railroading the one-ref change through, despite protests that it would not achieve desired outcomes.
"The league bosses were simply arrogant with this one ref decision," he says. "They were like a 'bull in a china shop'.
"They ignored the unanimous view of a 'Project Apollo' discussion panel held on May 11, 2020. Representatives there included players, coaches and clubs, all of whom agreed that the two-referee model was superior.
"They were just ignored."
The NRL moved to a two-ref system in 2008, but remains the only rugby league competition in the world to adopt the practise.
Under the revised format, one match referee will be supported by two sideline refs, who will bring more expertise and experience than previous touch judges.
In recent years, the competition has been marred by shocking touchline rulings that have swung matches, so - in theory - there are benefits to employing higher-rated officials in those roles.
But Del Vecchio argues the two-ref system has safety advantages.
"On numerous occasions, the second referee has picked up potential causes of harm to players, which were not detected at the same time by the other three match officials nor the bunker," he says. "This includes tackles, holds and throws that can cause significant injury.
"Identifying and responding to these incidents promptly is crucial in ensuring player safety, and in complying with concussion protocols where a head injury is suspected, but this does not appear to concern the league's bosses."
He also insists the savings are negligible.
"The cost saving of going to one ref is simply peanuts," he says. "However, in the spirit of cooperation, the referees were willing to meet and exceed any savings by cutting their wages further.
"This is on top of the pay cut they have already taken."
