On a side note, I was taught by his Mrs and met him a few times as he used to come in and do some PE type after school activities. What a thoroughly nice couple they were. She was a fantastic teacher and he was a really nice bloke too - loved to talk rugby.

I liked the way Whitfield gestures to the player to get up when he’s clearly been knocked out

The chip seems to belong to the 3 posters who have taken objection to my post. I didn’t mentioned any one club by name as a smaller club yet the 3 aforementioned posters who felt the need to retort just so happen to support the same club.

I wasn't there - twenty odd years before I was born, but my Grandad went to the 1953 Challenge Cup Final and he always swore blind that Peter Ramsden's first try was a double movement. He still won the Lance Todd though! Here's the try - about 25 seconds in. I think his momentum carries him over, but my Grandad didn't have the benefit of the big screen replay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWk_elHkLC4

I wasn't there - twenty odd years before I was born, but my Grandad went to the 1953 Challenge Cup Final and he always swore blind that Peter Ramsden's first try was a double movement. He still won the Lance Todd though! Here's the try - about 25 seconds in. I think his momentum carries him over, but my Grandad didn't have the benefit of the big screen replay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWk_elHkLC4

Not really I was only 3 years old and not at the game

I think it helped he was something like NZ heavyweight boxing champ. He was also involved in a massive punch up in Aus with a Jets player.

It does remind me of a GB v Aus game where Rod Reddy bites Jim Mills in the tackle. Mills get up, nuts Reddy & snots him on the way down. Penalty to GB, get on with it. No Aussie dare come near to Mills.

What an interesting fact. Doesn't take away the fact your opening paragraph is very bitter.

Brill game I was their but I think the reason he did nothing was the fans clapping broadhurst

After reading every thing on this forum the refs have never changed so I think we should leave them alone because I don’t think we can do any better

Quote ="Grimmy"Mine are both Ian Smith in Saints derbies at the JJB 2004 - we knock on whilst attacking the line. Lockers inexplicably opts to pat the ball upwards into Ade Gardners' hands rather than diving on it. Ian Smith is too quick to the whistle and blows a knock on as Gardener is going the full length. There is probably worse than that, but you don't tend to remember the ones that go your way. 2005 - Terry Newton knocks out Lee Gilmour and breaks Sean Long's jaw but stays on the field. Meanwhile, they get two sin bins for minor infringements. Saints, minus Long, became the first side to finish top of the league and not make the final, losing to both grand finalists by 3 and 5 points in the play offs with a 17 year old Moore, then a 19 year old out of position Roby deputising at scrum half. I think Newton cost them both the final and the trophy to be honest, when really he should have been sent off well before he got to Long.'" I'm assuming you're too young to remember the phantom russell smith penalty that won you the league in 93/94 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rug ... 04535.html Cullen was no where near the wigan player, and that goal kick cost warrington the league as we finished joint top with wigan, Russell smith has publicly said he made a mistake on that.

Quote ="Grimmy"Mine are both Ian Smith in Saints derbies at the JJB 2004 - we knock on whilst attacking the line. Lockers inexplicably opts to pat the ball upwards into Ade Gardners' hands rather than diving on it. Ian Smith is too quick to the whistle and blows a knock on as Gardener is going the full length. There is probably worse than that, but you don't tend to remember the ones that go your way. 2005 - Terry Newton knocks out Lee Gilmour and breaks Sean Long's jaw but stays on the field. Meanwhile, they get two sin bins for minor infringements. Saints, minus Long, became the first side to finish top of the league and not make the final, losing to both grand finalists by 3 and 5 points in the play offs with a 17 year old Moore, then a 19 year old out of position Roby deputising at scrum half. I think Newton cost them both the final and the trophy to be honest, when really he should have been sent off well before he got to Long.'" I'm assuming you're too young to remember the phantom russell smith penalty that won you the league in 93/94 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rug ... 04535.html Cullen was no where near the wigan player, and that goal kick cost warrington the league as we finished joint top with wigan, Russell smith has publicly said he made a mistake on that.

I remember that he was the only referee ever to send Parry Gordon off. It was for a technical offence and it was at Wilderspool in front of a very angry crowd. Mr Hepplethwaite must have been a very brave man.

I once remember Waine Pryce (I think) being awarded a try at Headingley for Cas without the assistance of the video ref. When they showed the replay, he clearly dropped it from about 3 or 4 feet in the air.

Robin Whitfield?

Colin played for us early 80's before moving to Halifax. Luckily we never had Robin reffing in those days as they were brothers.

I guess it's human nature, but I seem to remember a lot of instances where we've been on the receiving end of bad decisions but not the other way round.

I seem to remember he moved into refereeing after breaking Derek Noonans jaw.

One that stands out for me is a Challenge Cup Semi Final against Saints at Old Trafford, 1990 IIRC? Extremely tight game with nothing between the two teams. Into the last two minutes the score is level (potential replay looming in those days)? Hanley breaks through just inside the Saints half, rounds two with ease and has Goodway on his inside but running at least two yards in front of Hanley. Hanley puts a short pass to Goodway that was ridiculously forward who then goes under the posts to win the game and send us to Wembley again.

The highlights are on Youtube, search:

[iSt Helens v Wigan - March 1990 (Challenge Cup Semi Final)[/i

Skip to 7mins 50 secs to see the offending try.

Good job there was no forums and social media in those days

Looking at the wrong player wasn't he?

That was the excuse given anyway. I reckon he was just drunk

Was only young when that game took place.Just searched for the high lights and there is an Australian tv piece on the whole tour. That was some Queensland side and that punch was as fierce as any I've seen.

It's hard to say for sure from that angle, but Hanley is in front when he passes it, and stays in front when it's caught. It goes forward in relation to the ground of course, but that's irrelevant. Maybe forward looking at his hands, but not by miles. Those short ones are tough in real time. Mind you, I'm guessing the touch judge was well out of position, you can see him being very half-d earlier in the move. The ref has also turned his back!

Pass about a yard forward. What a game though. Get misty eyed watching RL of that quality.

Quote ="Fantastic Mr Cat"I'm assuming you're too young to remember the phantom russell smith penalty that won you the league in 93/94 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rug ... 04535.html Cullen was no where near the wigan player, and that goal kick cost warrington the league as we finished joint top with wigan, Russell smith has publicly said he made a mistake on that.'" Yeah I only started watching in '01, Russell Smith was widely regarding as our best ref from around that time until he left for Aus. My auntie hated Cullen with a passion!

Quote ="Fantastic Mr Cat"I'm assuming you're too young to remember the phantom russell smith penalty that won you the league in 93/94 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rug ... 04535.html Cullen was no where near the wigan player, and that goal kick cost warrington the league as we finished joint top with wigan, Russell smith has publicly said he made a mistake on that.'" Yeah I only started watching in '01, Russell Smith was widely regarding as our best ref from around that time until he left for Aus. My auntie hated Cullen with a passion!

I don't think it was that bad TBH,momentum and all that.....

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SWFy1tthkM[uWatch it here[/u[/url

Saints:

Forward pass at the Magic weekend a few years back between Lomax and Meli that got us a draw.

Completely obvious and it was against Wigan. It felt great.