Is it perhaps time for the big televised matches at least for the video ref to have the authority to intervene without being asked to by the match ref ?

Clear cut unbelievably forward passes and critical decisions over dying minutes kicks into touch will then [inot[/i be missed.

No. The referee is in charge of the game and always will be.

Otherwise we will have controversy with officials disagreeing and confusion as to which is in charge.

The VR can advise the ref at any time through communication kit but can only make a decision himself when asked by the ref. That's the way it works and that's the way it will stay

I didn't think the VR could rule on a forward pass because camera angles can be deceptive ?
Also, I suspect that most of the comments on here are from people who wern't actually at the game and even if they were most would not have been in direct line of play,the majority of Leeds fans were at the end opposite Lima's 2nd try, so were in absolutley no position to form any unbiased decision on the incident.
I haven't seen it on tv yet, but at the game I genuinely saw nothing wrong, thats not to say I'm right, it may well have been forward. The reality is that during the course of a game / season, some decisions go your way, and some don't, referees are not infallible, they do make mistakes. However, to suggest (once again) for the second time this season, that Leeds lost this game because of poor reffereeing is absolute nonsense.The reason why Wigan won this game and are top of the league is because they are quite simply better organised and fitter than anyone else in SL at the moment. Surely it's for Leeds and other teams to raise their level,not for Wigan to regress to were they were a couple of seasons ago. The constant bitching on here every time Wigan win a game, or competition, is because of a bad desicion, tackling technique or cheating is ridiculous and doesn't stand up to any logical thought process. Consistancy is what wins games,hard work and determination is the factor that puts you to the top of the tree in any sport or business, luck plays very little,if any part.

I thought, for what its worth, that Leeds played extremley well in the last 10 mins of the first half and, for the first 20 of the second, but at no point did they dominate the game.
The best team won the day imo, and wether or not you agree with me, the record books will always show Wigan as the winners of the CC 2011..................next year, who knows ?

Simple. No. Example Millenium Magic.

I have some sympathy with your point however Leeds have had their fair share of similar decisions over recent successful seasons. You can't blame the ref for the poor tackling though!

I have never supported the video ref and yesterday did nothing to change my mind the last try was a knock on time to do away with video refs
Time to make the touch judges and the men behind the try line do more opening their bloody eyes would be a nice start 2 P poor decisions cost Leeds yesterday and ruined what could have being one of the all time classic finals.

As for your coach he got it so wrong should have being McGuire/Burrow at 6/7 DB at 9 and Sinfield at loose crazy

I was sat on the side and in line and could see that the hands pointed forward so thought that would be given. No problems with the vidoe refereeing as it was conducted within the rules as they currently stand. Forward passes can't be given and the question about touch was not aksed. I think it should have been at the most critical stage of the game!

Last week I was watching a union try nations match where the video ref confirmed good touchdown but asked if the ref wanted to know anything else? Given a positive reply he then confirmed a forward pass and no try was awarded. So given coverage of matches like this why don't we just use the sport technology Rugby League so often boast about? Also acknowledge that video evidence will undoubtedly be used to investigate finger gestures

so come on lets use it for the crucial bits in semi finals, finals and all play off games where video coverage is available and equal for all matches.

PS. Well done Rhino's. Will be there on Friday to give you the cheer you deserve

I was in the corner where two of the major incidents occured along with 100 or so leeds fans. When lima went over for his 2nd try everyone went up claiming a forward pass, Robert Hicks standing level with the pass and some 30 yards closer than me chose to ignore it. Call it bottleless or cheating,he didn't call the forward pass. As for the diabolical Wigan head and feed when charnley clearly touched the ball (twice), it was a call from hicks some 5 yards from the incident that led to Wigan being awarded the scrum. Once again everyone around us saw it (including Wigan fans) and there was disbelief that an official could get it so wrong. Hicks was only slighter worse than Bentham and he will be made to look a right c*ck when Lima is charged with a dangerous tackle that could have left Delaney in hospital whilst Bentham chose to award a knock on against the Leeds player. Poor, poor decisions and unfortunaley a sad indictment on the standard of officiating at the top level.

Like I said, some you win some you lose.
If your honest, and call for video evidence on every incident, you only made the final because of a poor decision against Cas. Your second try yesterday should have been disallowed..........ball not played correctly, and don't even think about interference, because that would have only resulted in a penalty.
Lots of instances during yesterdays game were your markers wern't square and constant offsides by both teams were not given.
Any way the upside of your performance is, Mcdermot looks like he will be with you next season, so lots for you to look forward to

You horrible git .... At least allow us time to get over this before reminding us of we have more bizarre team selections, a lack of structure and personal vendettas to look forward to.

In the Semi-Final Wigan player were on at the ref to check his decisions numerous times throughout the game which he did with the VR.

The Leeds players asked Bentham to check the TJ's decision regarding whose head and feed it was at the scrum and he refused. If he had done so the decision would have been correctly reversed.

Also when Kylie Leuluai (sp?) pushed the Wigan defender when they tackled Peacock Bentham asked the VR for clarification of what went on.

So in effect the VR is consulted on some occasions and I agree should be used more often.

With the forward pass, on this occasion every camera angle showed it was forward and how the on field officials missed it is beyond me.

I would like to see not just in rugby but most sports to follow NFL and allow a coach to challenge a decision on maybe 2 occasions. On the forward pass that happens in every single game on more than 1 occasion all teams benefit from it or gets punished by it. 1 suggestion is for a forward pass maybe to count on the challenge by the coach. But where do you go back do you go to the incorrect play the ball by Ablett which lead to the Leeds 2nd try.

We all moan about the ones we dont get but forget the ones we do.

Would that be like [i"Penalty Try Russell, your decision ..." [/i from the official in the stand at Cardiff in 2003 when Calderwood was taken out off the ball by Vinaslowcoach.

Bradford fans need not have worried, as their ex-employee refereeing the game was struck down with selective deafness right at that point and waived play one ...