Im gonna say it and probably start a bees nest of abuse but how does everyone rate the referee's performance tonight?

From the very first tackle where he missed a high shot to off-sides and grapple tackles.. I thought he had a shocker.

I will admit we caused a lot of our own problems and whenever an attacker takes the ball into a tackle one handed it should always be a knock on if the ball ball is lost, however, Wanky Wire were given pens for holding down, high shots, grapple tackles when we were not. JP's at marker for not being behind the line for instance, when repeatedly BOTH sides failed to get both feet behind the line.

Refereeing consistency needs looking at and under Ganson/Sharp the standards have not improved.

Nothing to take away from what I thought was an excellent performance and save from dodgy goal kicking we should have won that game against one of the GF favs. Proven by Briers' (Wire's) tactics of trying for three drop goals and negative tactics towards the end.

He missed equally as much for them too. He didn't affect the result tonight though. I have seen much worse ref performances this year as well TBF.

The only decision that annoyed me was his decision not to penalise Warrington for an incorrect PTB in the build up to Ratchford's try.

Thought ref missed a few for both sides. Leeds missed a kicker and Warrington made errors that led to most Leeds tries as Leeds had pace from interceptions or dropped balls. Couldn't see a reason why he went to video ref for Hodgsons try but didnt hear what sky had to say. As for the Wanky Wire comment I will like to say we're not y anymore!

Without challenge cup this year now I've no doubt Leeds will be in Grand Final yet again

I thought Thaler had an ok game to be honest, although I think Briers missing his first drop goal was justice for us as Thaler got the knock-on call against Leeds wrong that led to the possession, but I think that was his only blatant error.

Yes and if a clean break is made by attacking team and the defender who tackles him holds him down this is deemed as a professional Foul and should be ten in the bin. Should have been this for Watkins on ratchford but Thaler likes to let the game flow. Sometimes you are to benefit from this and sometimes not. Think overall no team was helped more overall from his decisions.

Same could be said of Ratchford's late flop though, so think Thaler was consistent with his calls.

First half, i even took a picture but it came out blurred, your whole, i mean everyone, offside 3 times on one set, your defence probably aided tonight by the worst reffing performance i've seen this year, 8 metre rule must be a new one that i missed. Granted there were a lot of offside penalties but not nearly enough.
The first interception try, Watkins stops Riley, who is rapid, from tackling the man by obstructing him like an NFL blocker, doesn't even go to the video ref?
I'm not saying it's all one way but you tend to look for the bad in the opposition so it stuck out more.

The referees are under orders from Sky to let the game flow. Sky are turning the game into an armchair sport with no regard for the true fans!

How was that flop a professional foul? There wasn't a break and we had our entire defensive line set when he stupidly did that!

Personally thought Thaler was his usual garbage inconsistent self last night. Marching each side back either 8m or 12m and semmingly flipping a coin when it comes to the offsides. Play the ball was too slow too but that is an issue for the RFL to deal with.

I think that is the point last night. Thaler made a couple of incorrect decisions both ways. But the problem was the ones he didn't pull and should have done, and it was those that tended to see Warrington get the rub of the green.

The best thing about Thaler is that he lets the game flow.
The worst thing about Thaler is that he lets the game flow.

Thaler is IMO the best referee in the comp. He isn't a big-headed prick like several of his colleagues and the players like and respect him. That's a good start to begin with. His approach is hands off but RL fans in the UK have become so used to constantly, tediously bellowing for refereeing interventions on virtually every play you could easily convince yourself that it's a poor performance when he doesn't bend to your will. Far too many refs make too much of a stamp on the game. There is a balance, of course, but I'd rather have the Thaler approach than the disastrous player management of Silverwood or the constant interruptions of James Child.

(Sky, of course, have nothing to do with it. )

It was Jones-Bishop not Watkins, and Riley was pulling him back not the other way round. Other than that your eyesight is every bit as good as Thaler's.

I didn't even think about him until this thread, just what a great game it was.

How do you know they were offside?

he was terrible for both sides.

I was in line with them, unless we play the ref goes back 10 and the players go back 8 rules, in which case my bad.

Our game is getting softer by the year. There are shots that can be high that aren't a high shot, if that makes sense. There's FAR too many people (players and fans) complaining about high shots or overly aggressive tackles thee days when there's really nowt in them. I'd rather see games flow rather than stop for minuscule discrepancies.

There was one when Westwood smashed your young forward and Burrow and McShane ran in saying "he nearly took his head off". The replay was shown and it was a perfectly good tackle. Too many players has for their arms in the air shouting "HEY!" at the ref in this sport too. It's starting to frustrate me. People just need to get on with the game.

I don't think there was much lying on/holding down in the whole game. Although I do think he wasn't getting either side back the ten much. He was allowing ten or eleven men stand eight metres from the ptb and letting it go but pinging individuals (Wood and Peacock a few times each from memory) when they did it alone.

Other than that it wasn't a bad performance from the ref at all.

Without watching the game back , i actually thought it was the best ref performance of the season, he is by far the best man manager of players and it is not all about him

Nah. If its high it needs penalising, and anything above the shoulder should be a penalty in my opinion. There's the entire body to aim at, no need to hit around the head. It's nothing to do with being soft, anyone who thinks those players out there are somehow soft is seriously deluded. These players are absolutely miles bigger, faster and stronger than their predecessors and any with that comes a much higher risk of serious injury.

Caveman-If yer reffering to the hit on Foster when he knocked on Westwood came in swinging high and a clear high tackle that started high and hit high.

Only said in jest. Had fun singing that to your fans at OT and Wire signing We hate Rhinos. Good banter.

The Leeds player was behind the ball and ran in a straight line towards it. In the circumstances, whereas he can't deviate to get in Riley's path, neither is he obliged to get out of his way.

Besides which … since when was Riley guaranteed to tackle anyone?

Mate he caught Ryan Hall from the opposite wing, yet couldn't get anywhere near a forward? It was blatant obstruction.

Have you watched it back? You are going to be embarrassed when you do. Surprised you say it anyway, as once they showed the replay in the ground many wire fans shut up. Riley was trying to hold back BJB. Had he concentrated on Sutcliffe holding the ball he might have got to him.