Not necessarily.

In 2008 Ganson did the final (and it was Saints) after Klein and Silverwood got the semis.

Same in 2007 when Klein got the first final at new Wembley after Silverwood and Ganson got the semis.

On form it had to be Thaler.

On his semi-final form, Thaler had no chance.

When your boss has to apologise for your performance, you're not going to get a reward.

Have you seen Silverwoods performances over last few weeks, let alone since the season started?

The semi had nothing to do with the decision.

Get a good start, get on the scoreboard early and we'll be reet. Take Lumpawood out of the equation.

Thaler is by far the 'form' ref of the comp this year and he should have got the gig. I think this error in the Semi-Final is overdone. I still think he made a call and stuck with it, despite it being probably the wrong call on hindsight and reflection, he waved play on and for me that was the reason he didn't go upstairs, he made his decision before the try was scored and that was that.

I think the worse ref errors of the season were both by Monsieur Alibert who failed, on 2 occasions, to be able to keep count of the number of tackles in a set... now this is a huge error anyway, but when Warrington scored off the six tackle in the dying seconds to beat Wakefield then this makes it a bigger ref error than Ganson-gate in my opinion. If Wakefield fail to make the eight by a point then a clear ref error has cost them not only the 2 points but a play-off place! Even Child hasn't balls'ed up this badly... yet!

The Ken Grénijek would think this thread is fantastic.

What he said.

Personally never liked silverwood, he comes across as an arrogant love muscle.

That said it doesn't bother me that he is ref for the game. Agree with some of the above, I doubt he sits at home all day making voodoo dolls of Leeds players. What will be will be. Don't think he is the best ref available, but equally don't think he will be anti Leeds from past

It'd be easier if I was the ref. I know most of the rules (might have to stop the clock to look a few of the more obscure ones up from time to time, but why rush?) and I'd send Lee Briers off immediately after kick off, for being Lee Briers. I'd sin bin Ryan Atkins for an offensive hairstyle as well. Then if he hadn't shaved it off when he came back on, I'd sin bin him again. Oh, and I'd rule every tacklle that stopped Ryan Bailey illegal, taking the view that if he wasn't tackled he'd have scored each time. Ryan Bailey: 15 carries, 15 penalty tries.

It'd be the greatest refereeing performance in history.

*pictures it*

Can refs have "form"? Do fans seriously follow the "form of refs"?

Deary me today.

I ref football mate and its just like playing. Sometimes you have mare after mare and nothing goes right but when you are on form you are flying

I was struggling to find a suitable word but yes, I think ref's seemingly do go through periods, like players, where they have good and bad patches.

.... and I am sad... but you knew that!

I just got sick in my mouth.

Regardless of who the ref is and what happens, one set of supporters will feel more hard done by than the others. This tends to be the loosing side. Matter of fact is that if we play our socks off like we did against Wigan in the semi-final no referee can change an amazing performance.

I used to really get bothered about refs... usually because when we played bad it was one of the only ways of blame that made me feel better, especially when Ian Smith used to be in the SL. But... It really doesn't matter. The person you need to worry about is the Third Ref that pushes the button between Try or No Try.

Granted not neccessarily but (I presume from your research) if one of the semi-final referees has been awarded the final for the most recent three Challenge Cup finals it was not an unreasonable conclusion to reach when it became four.

The 2008 Ganson appointment I always saw as being somewhat politically motivated after the lifting of the home town bar that season. IIRC Ganson had been a prime mover behind the lifting of the ban, frustrated by St Helens success in reaching finals that he was consequently barred from controlling.

__________

I know it's a bit different in terms of Grand Final appointments (with the rounds following thick and fast) but it's also been the convention under the top 8 format for the final appointment to go to one of the officials from the previous round.

Hmmm, now I have read that back...

It may shock you all, but Silverwood is a Leeds fan. He does seem to be quite harsh with you, but that is probably more overcompensating trying not to favour you than being out to get you.

difficult position to put him in, but as you seem to get to every final (5 of last 6 Grand & Challenge cup final?) and he is one of the better refs it is bound to happen.

I suspect Thaler is loned up for the Grand Final.

Leeds with Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps): Played 60, Won 40, Drawn 1, Lost 19 ..... 67.5%
(Sequence W, =#FF0000L, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, =#FF0000L, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, =#FF0000L, W, =#FF0000L, =#FF0000L, =#FF0000L, =#FF0000L, =#FF0000L, =#FF0000L, W, =#FF0000L, W, =#FF0000L, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, =#FF0000L, =#FF0000L, W, =#FF0000L, W, W, W, =#FF0000L, =#FF0000L, W, =#FF0000L, =#0000BFD, W, W, W, W, =#FF0000L, W, W, =#FF0000L)

Leeds with Silverwood in charge in Challenge Cup: Played 7, Won 5, Drawn 0, Lost 2 ..... 71.4%
(Sequence W, W, =#FF0000L, W, W,=#FF0000 L, W)

Leeds V Warrington with Silverwood in charge: Played 5, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 2 ..... 60%
(Sequence W, W, =#FF0000L, =#FF0000L, W)

And in comparison to the same period with all officials, without which those stats have no value?

Was there a little mischief making going on when the Rhinos website illustrated this story with a picture of Silverwood from the WCC?

Silverwood first took charge of a Leeds game on the 22nd February 2002. As there have been a total of 21 other officials to have taken charge of Leeds games over that same period I probably don't have the time to do a line by line breakdown by individual referee let alone the patience to post the results on here.

If his record over the three categories V a combination of all referees is acceptable then here it is: The following covers seasons 2002 to 2012 inclusive

Leeds with Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps): Played 60, Won 40, Drawn 1, Lost 19 ..... 67.5%

Leeds without Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps): Played 311, Won 218, Drawn 7, Lost 86 ..... 71.22%

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Leeds with Silverwood in charge in Challenge Cup: Played 7, Won 5, Drawn 0, Lost 2 ..... 71.43%

Leeds without Silverwood in charge in Challenge Cup: Played 34, Won 26, Drawn 0, Lost 8 ..... 76.47%

__________

Leeds V Warrington with Silverwood in charge: Played 5, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 2 ..... 60%

Leeds V Warrington without Silverwood in charge: Played 24, Won 17, Drawn 0, Lost 7 ..... 70.83%

_______________________

Given the lop-sided appearance of his early record with Leeds some might wonder what the more recent record with Silverwood looks like, lets say over the period 2006 to 2012.

Leeds with Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps): Played 41, Won 23, Drawn 1, Lost 17 ..... 57.32%

Leeds without Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps): Played 192, Won 136, Drawn 2, Lost 54 ..... 71.35%

So since 2006, having Silverwood in charge has significantly reduced Leeds' chances of winning?

Technically the chances have always been the same. Its the outcome that been affected

No.

I've provided a few headline stats, it's up to individuals to assess their relevance without more in-depth analysis* and choose how they wish to interpret the results for themselves.

*Silverwood, as you might expect, has been appointed to a greater percentage of higher profile Leeds games over the period 2006 to 2012 than earlier in his career. During the SL Era three clubs have held/still hold a better than 50% points winning record V Leeds - Bradford, St Helens and Wigan - over the period 2002 to 2005 inclusive they represented 21% (4 of 19) as opposed to 34% (14 of 41) over 2006 to 2012 of Silverwood's time in the middle of Leeds fixtures. Leeds' success rate with this official fell from 89.47% to 57.32% when comparing the two periods. Perhaps not all of the reduction was as a result of the higher concentration though.