KEY POINTS:
I can't recall his name, but I think it was a joker with a pipe and leather arm patches who first raised the question, "If a tree falls in the forest and there's no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
I can't say that
this was part of the curriculum for me at Otahuhu College's industrial stream in the 1960s, but similar matters of great moment have this week been occupying the minds of the commentators and officials of the pulsating NRL competition.
Questions such as: "If a team is playing at home and no one turns up, does a referee control the game any differently than he would if there was a screaming mob of home fans baying at every decision?"
Crowds, particularly home crowds and their influence on referees, has been the hot topic surrounding the NRL. Who'd have thought it with all the previous dramas about obstruction, biting and even grapple tackles?
The crowds have been turning out in great numbers, and should this year at least be one of the ARL bosses' least worries. But it's the ability of large, vocal crowds to translate noise pressure into a 10-point advantage for home sides that would be grabbing the attention of Robert Finch this week.
Home crowd pressure, it seems, is translating into dodgy decisions and even points too often for the liking of some.
Manly coach Des Hasler would undoubtedly subscribe to that view, given the spray he unleashed on the video official after Sunday's 36-14 loss to the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium.
Not known for doing his bun, Dessy will now find himself $10,000 lighter in the pocket for his outburst. He had a justifiable gripe about the obstruction call which cost his side a legitimate try at a vital time in Sunday's match. It was a shocker of a decision, but Des is old enough to appreciate swings and roundabouts.
The fact he didn't want to comment on the pass to Chris Hicks which went at least three metres forward before he scored demonstrated that 20/20 vision for coaches relates only to the number of pairs of spectacles they own.
But what we're seeing increasingly in the NRL now is the pressure match officials are under as the stakes get bigger.
Crowd power should never be underestimated. The Warriors have shown in the second half of this year that they are as good if not better than any team in the NRL. Their growing legion of fans made a statement last Sunday as big as any of the wins that their team have enjoyed this year.
When I was coaching Manly I remember the difference Parramatta fans made to their team and the visiting sides. We used to refer to the complementary seats Manly were given at Parra Stadium as "the vegetable patch". I'm sure we were deliberately placed in the most feral area of the stand because the moment the Manly contingent of players' wives and family arrived the insults would start, and they were invariably aimed at me.
For all the insults, I loved the atmosphere and so did the players - from both clubs. It brought out the best in some and the worst in others (usually those in the stand).
Wembley is an arena equal to none in my experience. The fans play a massive role in the day of the Challenge Cup final and are as big a part of the day as the clubs involved. Ask anyone who has had the privilege of driving down "Wembley Way" in the team bus and they will tell you, it's a magic feeling all created by the loyalty and enthusiasm of fans.
A full house will always guarantee a great day - and this is the mouth-watering prospect the Warriors have in front of them as they head into the last round of the regular season this weekend.
A win against the Panthers will ensure a cracker atmosphere at Mt Smart for the Warriors' first semifinal in New Zealand since 2002.
Ivan Cleary plays a major role in his team's fortunes. But some have said the full house was like having an extra player on the field last Sunday. It certainly buoyed the Warriors who once again came up with an afternoon full of commitment.
I've heard it said the win against Manly was an ugly win, but I disagree. That was as good a win as could be expected in a game which could easily have been a disaster for them. Their mixture of patience and determination has clearly demonstrated that they will be a major threat in the semifinal series.
Last Sunday showed that the Warriors were plugged into the crowd. Big results are delivered on big stages. That was the Warrior's biggest stage this year and I can't see them suffering from stage fright in any challenges that lie ahead.
I've fancied Manly's chances all year, but they seem to be showing signs of the wobbles similar to what happened to them at the business end of last season.
* The team that was obviously suffering stage fright was the Catalans Dragons against St Helens at Wembley last weekend. That stage is the biggest in league and players don't get butterflies in their stomachs - they lose their stomachs.
St Helens, chock full of class players, were always going to be too big a hurdle for Stacey Jones' gallant team. It's interesting that Catalans put the cleaners through basically the same St Helens outfit but on a much smaller stage back in France.