Match official Josh Noonan will not be on the touchline for tonight's match between the Blues and Highlanders, paying for his error which cost the Highlanders a try last Saturday.
In the new era of refereeing accountability and openness, Noonan has been stood down from his role as assistant referee after wrongly ruling the ball was out when two Crusaders players tried to catch a Mathew Ber-quist up-and-under.
The kick was not caught by the players and picked up by Highlanders loose forward Adam Thomson, who ran away to score.
But he was pulled back by referee Chris Pollock, who pointed to the flag being up.
The flag should not have been put up as the ball would have been out only if it was caught on the full by either Crusaders player.
Acting Sanzar referee man-ager Lyndon Bray said the decision to demote Noonan was about being accountable.
"Josh did a great job but he has to be accountable for that error.
"Some errors do not have as big an impact but this one was very costly for the Highlanders.
"And with what happened last week it would be pretty poor form for the Highlanders to have Josh as an assistant referee again."
Bray said the assistant referee was part of a team and Noonan's decision had impacted on Pollock.
Bray denied Noonan had been dumped and said he would be back on the sideline for the round four match between the Blues and Crusaders on March 6.
Noonan, who will now be the television match official, has been replaced by Kane McBride on the sideline, while Garratt Williamson is the other assistant referee.
The match is being refereed by Bryce Lawrence.
Bray talked before the season started of referees being more accountable and open.
• Children aged under 13 will be allowed on the ground after the conclusion of tonight's match.
Entry will be below the Neville St stand and no adults will be allowed on to the field.
