Referees don't get comms not to penalise, the team of three doesn't work that way.
Comms to help prevent (i.e. Scan backs) & Comms to tell ref something has happened (i.e. blue, knock on), but never comms to tell a ref a decision they have made is not an offence. There are a number of reasons for this.
1, It will raise confusion to the referee who will be trying to play advantage whilst figuring out what the hell the AR is saying, that will always equal a mess.
2, The referee has seen something, how do you know that you were unsighted and they saw it clearly.
3, The referee has already indicated advantage (and possibly an offence) changing that without a clear advantage over would bring questions on what the referee was doing.
With regard to the quick throw in we probably need to break it down and look at each situation seperately.
In all cases the QTI is an option.
A, 10m law offences
1, Defence offside under the 10m law and still advancing to prevent QTI.
2, Defence Offside under the 10m law but standing still until QTI is taken.
3, Defence offside under the 10m law, but retreating until QTI is taken.
4, Defence offside under the 10m law, but retreating until put onside by team mate.
B, In front of kicker Offsides
1, Defence Infront of kicker, advancing to stop the QTI.
2, Defence in front of kicker, standing still until the QTI is taken, then advancing.
3, Defence in front of kicker, standing still until put onside by a team mate.
Now lets look at the relevant laws to see how you get back onside:
10m Offside:
[LAWS]11.4 OFFSIDE UNDER THE 10-METRE LAW
(a) When a team-mate of an offside player has kicked ahead, the offside player is considered to be taking part in the game if the player is in front of an imaginary line across the field which is 10 metres from the opponent waiting to play the ball, or from where the ball lands or may land. The offside player must immediately move behind the imaginary 10-metre line or the kicker if this is closer than 10 metres. While moving away, the player must not obstruct an opponent.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(b) While moving away, the offside player cannot be put onside by any action of the opposing team. However, before the player has moved the full 10 metres, the player can be put onside by any onside team-mate who runs in front of the player.
(c) When a player who is offside under the 10-Metre Law charges an opponent waiting to catch the ball, the referee blows the whistle at once and the offside player is penalised. Delay may prove dangerous to the opponent.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(d) When a player who is offside under the 10-metre Law plays the ball which has been misfielded by an opponent, the offside player is penalised.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(e) The 10-metre Law is not altered by the fact that the ball has hit a goal post or a crossbar. What matters is where the ball lands. An offside player must not be in front of the imaginary 10-metre line across the field.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(f) The 10-metre Law does not apply when a player kicks the ball, and an opponent charges down the kick, and a team-mate of the kicker who was in front of the imaginary 10-metre line across the field then plays the ball. The opponent was not 'waiting to play the ball' and the team-mate is onside. The 10-metre Law applies if the ball touches or is played by an opponent but is not charged down.
Sanction: When a player is penalised for being offside in general play, the opposing team chooses either a penalty kick at the place of infringement or a scrum at the place where the offending team last played the ball. If it was last played in that team’s in-goal, the scrum is formed 5 metres from the goal line in line with where it was played.
(g) If more than one player is offside and moving forward after a team-mate has kicked ahead, the place of infringement is the position of the offside player closest to an opponent waiting for the ball, or closest to where the ball lands.
[/LAWS]
When a player is offside in General Play:
[LAWS]11.1 OFFSIDE IN GENERAL PLAY
(a) A player who is in an offside position is liable to sanction only if the player does one of three things:
• Interferes with play or,
• Moves forward, towards the ball or
• Fails to comply with the 10-Metre Law (Law 11.4).
A player who is in an offside position is not automatically penalised.
A player who receives an unintentional throw forward is not offside.
A player can be offside in the in-goal.
[/LAWS]
Offside General Play Laws (Being put onside by the actions of an opponent):
[LAWS]11.3 BEING PUT ONSIDE BY OPPONENTS
In general play, there are three ways by which an offside player can be put onside by an action of the opposing team. These three ways do not apply to a player who is offside under the 10-Metre Law.
(a) Runs 5 metres with ball. When an opponent carrying the ball runs 5 metres, the offside player is put onside.
(b) Kicks or passes. When an opponent kicks or passes the ball, the offside player is put onside.
(c) Intentionally touches ball. When an opponent intentionally touches the ball but does not catch it, the offside player is put onside.
[/LAWS]
So looking at these laws we can easily answer some of our situations, the law for offside under the 10m law makes no exception for a ball being in touch, so as referees we should not either.
A, 10m law offences
1, Defence offside under the 10m law and still advancing to prevent QTI. Penalty: Law 11.1(a) & 11.3(a)
2, Defence Offside under the 10m law but standing still until QTI is taken. Penalty: Law 11.3(a) but could be managed.
3, Defence offside under the 10m law, but retreating (but still offside under 10m law) until QTI is taken. Penalty: Law 11.3(a) but could be managed.
4, Defence offside under the 10m law, but retreating until put onside by team mate. Play On: Law 11.2(c)
B, In front of kicker Offsides
1, Defence Infront of kicker, advancing to stop the QTI. Penalty: Law 11.1(a)
2, Defence in front of kicker, standing still until the QTI is taken, then advancing. Play On: Law 11.3(b)
3, Defence in front of kicker, standing still until put onside by a team mate. Play On: Law 11.2(c)
Hope that helps.
