An NRL forum has recommended introducing the use of two on-field referees in matches from next season.

The NRL's annual football conference in Sydney on Thursday attended by former and current coaches, players, referees, board members, administrators, league identities and key media figures supported the two-referee proposal.

They also supported scrapping the use of the video official to rule on ball stripping and taking stronger action against grapple tackles.

And they favoured a proposal to reduce the number of interchanges from the 2010 season.

On the judiciary front there was agreement that a players' carry over points should be reduced by five points with each week he competes without another charge.

The forum is only an advisory body and final recommendations must be determined by NRL management, the NRL Board and, in the case of actual rule changes, the Australian Rugby league and Rugby League International Federation.

This year's season saw the NRL introduce a comprehensive trial of a two referee model in the closing stages of the Toyota Cup competition for Under 20s players.

While there was some debate about whether a trial should be continued further in Toyota Cup, 58 per cent of people attending Thursday's forum were in favour of using two referees in the NRL, 17 per cent did not have a strong view on the issue and 25 per cent were opposed.

The presence of an extra referee added further weight to a view that video referees should no longer adjudicate on stripping penalties.

The decision to remove video referees from this area was overwhelming with 83 per cent voting to change the rule.

"Today was a chance to gauge the opinions of those at the game's coal-face and it was a really positive process," said NRL chief executive David Gallop.

"This isn't a democracy and the votes (today) do not determine final outcomes.

"But they do provide us with critical input in making decisions."

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