As a Saints fan I find all of this quite ridiculous.

I think McManus has some valid points (can you imagine the FA appointing a ref to, say, a Man U v Liverpool FA Cup Final the week after said ref had been splashed over the press meeting fan(s)/Chief Exec re: death threats from a fan of one of the finalists? It simply wouldn't happen because, frankly, it's a stupid move).

More importantly though, it is thoroughly embarrassing to be bleating about it publically and I'm disppointed in EM and the club for behaving in this manner.

I might just start posting pictures like this whenever a saints fan makes a spurious comment(basically lies) about hicks 'having a shocker'

A poor point badly made....and you've made it twice.

he didnt but cos of mcmanus's rant about something that happened at the beginning of the game now has saints fans believing he did, most of us have had a lot worse referee perfomances against our teams this year.

"some people may have thought the perception of impartiality had gone. not me though, i totally thought he was impartial. and that perception was consolidated by many. but again not me, in reality, when hicks incomprehensibly didnt go upstairs for morgan knowles try. Obviously i know the reason he didnt go upstairs was because he was sure in his decision that the ball hadn't been grounded, but other people might perceive it differently, i mean i cant help it if they see it the way i have just laid out, its entirely their own perception of reality. supporters (but not me) have been dissatisfied with officating standards for decades (but not me i think its great) and its driving fans away. It's not the price of a game or the rubbish on the pitch driving people away, its totally the refereeing standard doing that. or so ive heard. from spectators. i dont think that way"

One of the most OTT posts of the year on VT, give your head a good shake m'lad before you post.
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[iClassy Warrington.[/i
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Warrington's Steward vicious attack on a Widnes supporter.
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Warrington's fans causing trouble with Wigan early in the season.
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Warrington's attacking the VIP box at Catalans.
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Warrington's brick attack on Saints Coaches.
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Warrington's death threat to a referee.
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Warrington's tea and biscuit invitation to a referee and then getting the gig to officiate a Warrington v Saints Cup Final.
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Warrington's fans using Pyrotechnics at home and away grounds.
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These are factual issues which would concern any potential sponsors and not what has been written in a Saints Official Match Programme.

Brilliant. Knew it would be Warrington's fault . Ridiculous modern day political notion of deflecting one's failures/cock ups by pointing out an opponent's and not taking any ownership. Well you know all that Warrington stuff (bar the Wigan thing you've invented) Well we did all that cos McManus is an ill-informed hitter fool. Not our fault.

Quote ="ratticusfinch"Brilliant. Knew it would be Warrington's fault . Ridiculous modern day political notion of deflecting one's failures/cock ups by pointing out an opponent's and not taking any ownership. Well you know all that Warrington stuff (=#BF0000bar the Wigan thing you've invented) Well we did all that cos McManus is an ill-informed hitter fool. Not our fault.'" The Cheshire Police Incident No is IML-348039 which you might think is my invention: https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/ne ... -warriors/

Quote ="ratticusfinch"Brilliant. Knew it would be Warrington's fault . Ridiculous modern day political notion of deflecting one's failures/cock ups by pointing out an opponent's and not taking any ownership. Well you know all that Warrington stuff (=#BF0000bar the Wigan thing you've invented) Well we did all that cos McManus is an ill-informed hitter fool. Not our fault.'" The Cheshire Police Incident No is IML-348039 which you might think is my invention: https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/ne ... -warriors/

This is turning into a bigger conspiracy than JFK in Dallas.

It was nothing but a rugby game that Warrington won fairly & squarely.

You mean the puff of smoke from the grassy Knowles? Ba-dum-tish!

I’ll get my coat...

I'm not too sure he will succeed in that. As sure as night follows day, Robert Hicks will get one of the semis, with Ben Thaler the other. He'll also get a 50/50 crack at the final, whoever is in it.

This would be vaguely interesting if Saints had lost a close one. As it was they were in the end pretty comprehensively outplayed and one bad decision wasn't the difference (unless McManus is saying his team are so mentally fragile that one bit of adversity caused them to lose the plot entirely).

It's all very embarrassing for Saints as far as I can see - and certainly won't age very well. They've won plenty of big games which were genuinely close but with refereeing decisions which were infinitely more controversial (Joynt's Voluntary Tackle FFS! The so-called knock on by Michael Withers!). It's just pitiful to see them wasting their time and emotional capital on this bull.

It would be massively unfair on Robert Hicks to put him under the pressure of refereeing St Helens again this season. They have to maintain the perception of impartiality. Me thinks it'll be Thaler and Mr Chris Kendall. We like him, he's a good ref you see



I'd be amazed if Hicks got any Warrington or St Helens games for the rest of this season. For his own good, give him the lesser games and leave him out of the play offs altogether. Let the pressure subside, let Saints capitulate in the final or semi finals under another referee and wipe the slate clean.

OR they can subject a low paid official to severe pressure and unnecessary abuse and deal with the fallout of that instead?

Not sure Mcmanus put anything out there when the double movement try against us won them the game at their place earlier this season with the last touch of the ball ? it would seem that he was in favour with Child at that moment.

DO NOT RESTART THE VOLUNTARY TACKLE THREAD!!! Why would you even post that!!! Joynt genuinely tripped, he was fatigued, when did you EVER see a voluntary tackle given!

You're a Salford fan. Your previous owner declared war on the RFL and repeatedly suggested a coup was the best way forward. But McManus is the anti-christ? From a one minute google search it seems criticism of referees is far from limited to McManus. It seems Leigh's owner did it, Koukash has, Carter has and none of those teams were near a final. Wigan even did it after their player assaulted an unconscious man once.

McManus is at fault for his bad timing and lack of class and nothing more. The content of what he said is perfectly valid (Whether you agree with it or not). He should have left the programme notes as a congratulations to Warrington and an apology to the fans and maybe had a sentance about having issues with the officiating and that he'd take it up through the proper channels.

Quote ="Salford red all over"Not sure Mcmanus put anything out there when the double movement try against us won them the game at their place earlier this season with the last touch of the ball ? it would seem that he was in favour with Child at that moment.'" Why would he, the field ref gave it up as a try and sent it to the video ref and he agreed with the decision. We didn't have that luxury with Hicks in the final if he gave it as a no try and offered it up to the video ref to confirm no try we wouldn't be having McManus and all this anti saints guff. At least we don't throw missiles at the referee unlike a Salford Fan. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... gue-185642

Quote ="Salford red all over"Not sure Mcmanus put anything out there when the double movement try against us won them the game at their place earlier this season with the last touch of the ball ? it would seem that he was in favour with Child at that moment.'" Why would he, the field ref gave it up as a try and sent it to the video ref and he agreed with the decision. We didn't have that luxury with Hicks in the final if he gave it as a no try and offered it up to the video ref to confirm no try we wouldn't be having McManus and all this anti saints guff. At least we don't throw missiles at the referee unlike a Salford Fan. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... gue-185642

Quote ="Judder Man"Why would he, the field ref gave it up as a try and sent it to the video ref and he agreed with the decision. We didn't have that luxury with Hicks in the final if he gave it as a no try and offered it up to the video ref to confirm no try we wouldn't be having McManus and all this anti saints guff. At least we don't throw missiles at the referee unlike a Salford Fan. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... gue-185642'" No you just throw them at your own players wives

Quote ="Judder Man"Why would he, the field ref gave it up as a try and sent it to the video ref and he agreed with the decision. We didn't have that luxury with Hicks in the final if he gave it as a no try and offered it up to the video ref to confirm no try we wouldn't be having McManus and all this anti saints guff. At least we don't throw missiles at the referee unlike a Salford Fan. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... gue-185642'" No you just throw them at your own players wives

Not in the same context though, that was a celebration incident........ Not like stewards fists, chairs, bricks and death threats.

So thats ok then, thank you for clarifying that someone hurt by your fans was ok because of the situation, thats not convenient whatsoever is it.

For Whitehaven at home to Leigh, by Ashley Klein. I was there, a legendary moment !

He certainly did his eyes were obviously not working properly and I think Mcmanus should have complained because to anyone that could see it was a double movement. That two points would have seen us sat second now.

You seem to be lashing out in all directions and you're desperation looks, well, desperate.
Your Chairman went way past the mark, way past it, end of, as the youff would say,

What you (and many other saints fans) are just not getting is that this isn’t about your chairman criticising a referees performance, as you quite rightly say lots of others including owners, coaches etc. have done so in the past.
This is about saying ‘in reality’ the referees impartiality was compromised! That’s a very serious accusation to make. Can I ask whether you think that was the case?