The NRL has engaged former cricket coach John Buchanan and league Immortal Bob Fulton to oversee a widespread review of the refereeing ranks. One of their top priorities is investigating the feasibility of a "central command centre" which would be situated in an off-site location to  shield officials from distractions at the ground. The bunker system is already used in American sports including the NHL and NFL and league officials plan to head overseas in the off-season to learn more about how it works. It's expected to be a seven-figure investment if the NRL follows suit.

However, Folkes, a former premiership-winning player and coach with Canterbury, prefers to do his video refereeing work on-site.

"I wouldn't like to be in a bunker, personally. I'd rather go to the game," Folkes said.

"I do [enjoy the atmosphere], I don't know if the rest of them do. I'm brought up with being at the game and the buzz of the crowd, that sort of stuff. People higher up than me will be making those decisions."

Asked if it could be a distraction when supporters were jeering as he was deliberating on the play, the former NSW and Australian forward said: "I can only speak for myself but it's never influenced any decision I've made. You want supporters to be passionate – maybe not banging on the glass or abusing you on the way out.

"It's funny, I was thinking the other day that it's the only professional sport maybe in the world where referees are under this sort of scrutiny. You look at rugby union – no one cares who the referee is. Soccer, you don't see basketball referees or AFL referees getting abused. They are certainly under pressure, under higher scrutiny than others.

"I don't know why that is, maybe because it's popular and on every radio and TV station. I think commentators have a bit to do with it, they make a comment on the referees and everyone jumps on board. Sometimes they are wrong."

Folkes has returned to the coaching ranks to oversee the Australian women's national team, which will compete against their New Zealand counterparts as part of an expanded NRL Auckland Nines program. The Jilaroos will play three matches against the Silver Ferns in the 2015 edition, with the games to be televised on Sky Television.

Folkes said he was impressed with the physicality and skill in the women's game.

"The contact, you don't think that girls would be smashing into each other but they certainly do," he said.

"There's some real talent. I mentioned Maddie Studdon being a bit like Billy Slater and she is, she floats and is quicker than the others, always in the right place at the right time."

NRL football operations manager Nathan McGuirk said the inclusion of the female footballers would be a huge boost for their profile.

"The spirit of the Auckland Nines is to create an event that we can develop and grow and the decision to include the women's teams was the next natural step," McGuirk said.