I'm not sure the fact that the elite match officials are full time necessarily puts anyone off taking up refereeing. The chances of progressing to that level are fairly slim after all and there are plenty of people officiating at amateur levels who have no desire to turn it into a career.

The issue is potentially with emerging officials, who by the time they are considered good enough to move up to full time status will find themselves already with jobs/careers, possibly families to support and mortgages to pay. It's asking a lot to get them to give up their day jobs to have a crack at being a full time match official with no guarantee of security if they are subsequently found to be not up to the standard required.

Based on the games I've seen, I can't say there has been a marked improvement in standards of decision making or fitness since the move to full time, so you have to wonder what the point was? All it did was cause one existing, highly experienced referee to quit.

Guess Leaguefan's refusal to answer the question means that he's not put his name forward either.

As a Hull FC fan who has been to every game this season (and for the past 20 years) I'm fully aware that our team and coach has deficiencies. However, what we witnessed on Friday from the 'referee' was just not acceptable and anyone who is in any doubt about that should watch the game back. Mr Child is a regular topic of discussion because he is a poor referee who just isn't up to the job at SL level and the sooner Stuart Cummins realises that, the better. Unfortunately what will happen is that Cummins will defend Child to the hilt after last Friday night rather than concede that one of his boys had a very poor evening. Referees should be accountable, just as players and coaches are, but it ain't ever going to happen and that's why we end up with scenarios like last Friday night and the Wakey v Cas game at the Millennium this season.

superleague, we told you so.

You actually done the maths to see if that figure is correct ?

your posts are so cringe worthy to read.

I'm no sure what prompted this, given that I've been defending Childs and criticising Agar. Also, I'm not sure what comment you seem to have taken offence at.

However, I should perhaps point out that I'm a practising referee - quite possibly one of the most experienced practising referees south of Birmingham. Blowing a whistle doesn't, of course, give you any more authority off the field on RFL organisation matters than the next person, but given I've re-read my comments on this thread and found nothing particularly controversial or extreme, I admit to being at a loss regarding your response....

A schoolteacher AND a referee?


You know what they say.


Those who do, DO. Those who can't do, TEACH.

Those who play, PLAY. Those who can't play REFEREE.

And those who can't do, play, teach or referee, pretend to be internet warriors on message boards in between bouts of self-abuse. Go wipe your keyboard down and stop bothering the grown-ups. You've been warned about this before.

Bazza in case you read the above just look below

I question the mental stability of anyone who would consider becoming a referee. But to actually do it and then tell people they are one as well is bewildering

You letting your own bias speak for the majority now then?
Surprised you didn`t bring Radford into the conversation.

I agree with all you have said but would question the general fitness levels of the SL refs - I don't think i've ever seen a fitter ref than Thierry Alibert,in fact he prides himself on his fitness levels - just watch his warm-up routine before the game.I was also impressed with Mr Hewer at TO13 on saturday,he kept up with play and gave himself (like Mr Alibert) the best possible chance to make the correct decisions.

Just watching the Salford-bradford game and James child has had a nightmare. Wish he'd just stop blowing his whistle at every little tiny petty infringement. Just let the players play and stop ruining the game.

Without referees, we would have no game to play, watch or discuss

And all they get is from people

I thank them for helping the great game of Rugby League

You took the words out of my mouth - or at least away from my keyboard!



It's very easy to sit in your armchair or stand on a terrace and criticise, much easier than taking to the field and doing the job. If it was an easy task everyone would be doing. It's not so why spend so much time criticising those that do put their hands up and step into the line of fire?

A mate of mine reckoned that all referees were sexual deviants. After all, what type of person does it take to run onto a field with 10,000 people all wanting to f**k them?

Mr Childs put in another ever so slightly bizarre display again tonight , not saying he was the reason we lost , but it was a totally disjointed performance with both sides completely frustrated by the end

Only problem is , he will end up being dropped back to the Championships , and we'll have to have him even more

Could anyone tell me what Salary a grade 1 referee gets ie Ganson.

I always thought that the salary would be so limited it would inevitably put off lots of people wanting to do it as how could you take the loss of salary from a half decent job to be a ref.


If that puts off people wanting to be full time refs then maybe we should go back to semi professional or part time refs,

Didnt Kirkpatrick ? go to RU because he did not want to be a FT ref as it would mean giving up a better paid full time job

Yes he is/was a Banker , unlike Mr Childs

definitely time for female referees then ?












[size=50(anyway coddy,didn't think you had any mates ?)[/size

I heard at the time they started being FT, the salary was about 35k, which is why Kirkpatrick decided not to do it.

Jim Mills on twitter...

bigjimmills
After watching Leigh v Catalan last night I understand how Richard Agar criticised ref J Child, should return his £6000 as he told the truth

Sean Penkywicz's Twitter;

"Think the ref at Leigh might need escorting out the ground."

"Leigh got nothin he's poor"

In my opinion, full time refs has been a seriously retrograde step.

The salary - and the relatively short career span - is unlikely IMO to attract the best candidates. Who would you rather have? Banker Kirkpatrick, or *anker Child?

Also, if you were a conspiracy theorist you might think that a full-time ref is far more susceptible to any alleged "team orders" coming out of Rot Hall? After all, who would put their job on the line and disobey the boss (or, maybe more to the point, the boss' ultimate paymasters)? Tell you who might: someone with a separate income who does reffing in their spare time, and so could afford to put principle first? But we digress, since only the conspiracy theorists might think that way.

Two quick ideas for solutions, not mutually exclusive:

1 - Significantly increase the package for a full-time ref, including a "pension" for life once their full-time career is over; the latter cannot be taken away if the guy is stood down by Rot Hall, so he need not be as concerned for his immediate welfare should he have a big fallout with his boss. And have an independent refereeing commissioner to support the officials should they feel they need someone to refer problems to, and to judge in cases where Rot Hall wants to get shot of an official

2 - Allow suitable-qualified part time officials to again officiate at the top level. I have no problem shouting "the referee's a banker" - when he IS - as well as being a good official too!

I also cannot see how one guy can police both the PTB and the offside at the same time. Oh, and maybe start educating touch judges in how to spot a forward pass, and give them more authority in that regard?

I have seen too many games recently where the play on the field has been degraded by the mistakes and sometimes bizarre decisions (some might say bias - let's leave it as mistakes?) of the officials.