I think that Steve Ganson is the best referee in super league. After watching the performance of Ian Smith yesterday my point was proven. Also I think that when i saw silverwoods diabolical performance against Wigan and again Last night in the WCC.

Any thoughts on this?

Thought last two games Silverwood ref'd were the two best games of RL I've seen so far this year. In both he applied the rules fairly & allowed the game to flow as much as possible. If refs blew up every time there was an infringement we'd be watching Union where it takes 4 minutes to play a scrum.

Yes but if he kept pulling it up for holding down then the players would soon stop. Its a professional foul interferance and should be in the sin bin. Last week Wigan was holding down all the way through the game and I think the referee pulled it up once or twice. So if thats the standard of refereeing you like then more fool you.

And Warrington never hold down or strip the ball and get away with it?

You ever tried refereeing a professional sport or speaking to one to know how hard it really is?

Whatever happened to Refscall??

No there all human and have good and bad days just some seem to have more bad than good

Ganson ? not even the best ref in St Helens

Yes, without doubt.

best ref is ganson...worst silverdud

Best is Ganson, worst is Alibert

Isn't he shacked up on some remote island with safeway?

Dead on.



A hundred percent correct. People can cry n moan but the players would soon stop when that whistle count built up

I hate this 'get off him'/holding down for a couple of seconds nonsense. It seems people want to watch tick and pass the speed they want play the balls to be. There's nothing wrong with rewarding good defence IMO, and a by-product of good defence is the right to peel off the play tackled player, rather than jumping up or rolling out of their way.

No but if an attacker dominates the tackle he has a right to a quick and fair PTB, same way that if the ref shoulds surrender or dominant the defender is entitled to longer

A very fair ref in my opinion is Thierry Alibert.

Bring back Karl Kirkpatrick!!

In answer to the question posed, yes, by a country mile.

Ganson is my favourite ref he doesn't take any nonsense and likes the game to flow as best possible, also its funny when hes reffin us always comes to the south stand or away end if were away to accept the boo's

I had forgotten about him, we didn't get on as I recall.

Being a ref is a bit like being an artist. None of them are any good until they retire (or die). What on earth make anybody take up the profession I dont know. All they get is criticism and abuse. Lets just be grateful that there are people out there willing to do the job - no mattter how badly - because its not something I'd ever wish to do.

Did he get on with anyone..

Ganson...he's a great Ref and an even better video Ref.

Hullkr's Match winning try against Cas was perfectly legal and not one person disagrees with Ganson on that.

from the safe and calm surroundings of a Video Room, watching frame by frame replays of a bloke dropping the ball and never again regathering it in any way shape or form Ganson correctly rules a perfect grounding..

Steven Ganson a Genious disguised as a fat bumbling idiot.

Safers & he were like the Odd Couple - pretended to hate each other but really underneath it all...

Totally irrelevant to the original post but Mr Ganson was in Stockton Heath last night enjoying a meal out.
I considered offering to pay for his meal in return for some 'leeway' with any future decisions on the pitch but thought better of it.

Anyone else remember the trip to Whitehaven in the Cup in 04? We stopped in the Little Chef just off the M6 somewhere around Penrith to find the place full of Wire fans & Stevie G with his team of officials. Good banter on both parts with the guy about to ref our team - seem to remember we tried to get him to pay for everyones' meals with no joy. Also a huge chorus of boos when Denis Betts walked into the caff.

Can't see that happening in football...