Probably, but no one listened because that was the first time!

What is it with northerners adding an S to the end of people's surnames for no reason whatsoever?

I wasn't aware I had

What you on about Listers?

No worse than adding an O.
Dobbo,Yeamo, etc.

what is it with southerners not being able to pronounce 'th'....'fank you' .............grow up lister or at least post something relevant.

I fink I know what you mean about that



In fairness to Mr Childs , reffing Leeds is an absolute nightmare , the amount of interference and cheap shots is quite ridiculous , he could easily have doubled up on the number of penalties against both clubs tonight

What is it with Listerssssssss poor attempts at fishing? Try contributing something worthwhile . . . . Awright geeezzaa

It does seem a bit strange that people slate him (justifiably might I add) yet insist on pluralising his name - as if one of him isn't enough.

At least the players on the field however gain the benefit of explanations of his decisions when they ask, which is more than the confused spectators in the stands get.

You should never leave a game talking about the referee, but when this bloke's in charge, people talk of little else.

One thing he did yesterday, which was unprofessional.........when his two touch judges were on the field, and he asked them what they saw, he took their reports, and then dismissively waved them away, saying "i dont need you".


Couldn't he have shown them a bit of respect, even if it was only "thanks for that".

He really needs to work on his communication skills, because there are some really good refs in the championship that are coming through, and i can see him slipping down the pecking order.

Given that the referees are full time employees, the RFL just cant sack him on the spot - even if they wanted to. They will have to abide by employment law, and they could potentially be building a case against him right now - there seems to be plenty of evidence stacking up that he isnt capable of performing his duties effectively, but I guess there are more stringent rules like that in place before a company can bin someone off.

That was in response to something one of the TJs said to him. I assumed, because he'd taken the reports and was about to speak to Delaney and Sinfield (after the assault by Delaney), that he was asked if they needed to stay (although none of the mics picked up the exact words). I didn't think it was disrepectful at all

When I read the title of this thread I wasn't sure if it referred to Child, Hicks or Roby as it applies equally to each of them.

I'm pretty certain that if you were poor at your job almost everytime you tried to do it and made god knows how many blunders your employer would have grounds for getting rid of you.

Especially when a lot of the blunders are played out live on national television.

Is he actually full time?

Yes , A first class , grade A , prize nob edd

www.therfl.co.uk/referee/courses How many takers? Plenty of courses going. One on the 6th August just for you Philb

www.therfl.co.uk/referee/courses How many takers? Plenty of courses going. One on the 6th August just for you Philb

according to Stuart Cummings the RFL annual report, the full time referees are 5 years away from the standard he wants them to be at.

Is that 5 Neptune years ??

I do this stuff for a living and would happily handle the RFL's case against Mr Child on a pro-bono basis.

He started the season by ruining the Cas vs Wakey game with 37 penalties and has continued in much the same vein, often allowing the games he officiates to descend into niggly affairs, due to the players becoming frustrated with his inconsistent and inaccurate calls.

It may have cost Mr Agar £6,000 for the pleasure, but his inarticulate outburst was totally understandable: "It's absolute baffling!"

No he said:



He didn't say the officials where five years away from where he wants them to be

Strange that the problems with ANY game of rugby league have nothing to do with the players trying to bend the rules, gamesmanship and downright flaunting of the rules/laws of the game.

It's incredible that only ONE person, who is not actually doing any of that, is considered to be the perpetrator of all the problems.

What a peculiar state of affairs.

Thanks for your contribution Mrs Child.

Regardless of what the players do or don't do, your James makes poor decisions on a regular basis, often ruining the match as a spectacle and almost always contributing to the frustration that naturally breeds flare-ups on the pitch.

Amended for accuracy!!!