Sure they can, but just becuase it is possible to do two things or more at once, doesn't mean it will happen

I thought the thread was should it...

Exactly, the time is the last thing you are thinking about when punches are being thrown and scuffles are going on. All your concentration has to be aimed towards the ongoing inccident in front of you. If anything serious happens and you have missed it due to looking at your watch for a second or turning to the time keeper to signal time out then it wont look good on your part will it.

But a ref not doing their job by not stopping the clock doesn't look good either.

If Leeds choose to start a fight, then surely we can't complain that it took time up? The ref isn't going to think "here lads have an extra few mins to knock each other out". He will do everything to diffuse the situation. then when he is speaking to the players after, something he chooses do, then he holds the clock up.

I thought the ref, bar sending off the payer that clearly went to take out Burrow, had a good game. We were playing very well up untill Burrow was taken out.

Manly clearly saw him as the danger man.