AT LEAST HE WAS BORN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PENNINES

Would have liked it to be Silverwood ideally he's been the best ref this year IMO. Either way as long as it ain't Ganson or Child's I'll be OK with it.

Confirmed now. Bentham ref, Ganson video ref.

Why the cloud? Who else should get it? Silverwood's probably been the best ref this year, but they have to spread it around a bit & Silverwood got the ANZAC test and will now probably get the Grand Final. Bentham has refereed well this year.

Hicks and Child are the touch-judges though, which is rewarding incompetence.

And you'll be delighted to learn that the Video Ref is Mr. Ganson.

Won't affect the result. Best team on the day will win, simples.

Ref P Bentham TJ J Child TJ R Hicks RR R Silverwood RTJ T Roby VR S Ganson MC D Campbell TK TBC

My prediction was almost correct

Yes, but he is from the wrong side of Wigan - he is a Lobby Gobbler who is in the W@nkyW@nky Warrington Referees Society.

Won`t matter on the day - he will have to behave himself on the big stage.

He's not in Warrington referees society but he lives in Warrington and sometimes goes down to assist them

My mistake!

Still a Leyther though.

This is the same as in last year's CC Q/F when neither gave Wigan much benefit of the doubt -(Bentham's failure to punish Peacock preoperly for almost taking Sam's head off and then sinbinning Faz when Mcguire went down as if poleaxed when Faz attempted to charge down a kick and Ganson's getting a crucial knock on decision wrong after a high kick which would have given Wigan head and feed 10 metres out.)

TBH I'm more concerned about Ganson as almost all crucial decisions now depend on the VR. You can bet that any 50/50 call will go in Leeds's favour.

As pointed out as long as we play to our capabilities then the ref doesn't matter.

That said if any ref could cost us it would be Bentham. He was a disgrace at Leeds in the cup last year when he gave a shambolic penalty against Coley and then for me one of the worst decisions I've seen in years in giving Faz 10mins.

One the plus side we shouldn't have the south stand pulling the strings.

How'd it work out for ya in the league game at the DW?

I bet Leeds are not happy. i.e. Ref and Video Ref both from near Wigan.

But as they are from Leigh/Warrington and St Helens, they seem to dislike Wigan big time, particularly Ganson.

I presume you are referring to the Mcguire knock on a few minutes before the end of the game.

This was not a 50/50 call - once it was seen properly it was clear that Mcguire had dropped the ball after Sam knocked his arm. It was very unfortunate for Leeds and Mcguire almost got away with it with an instinctive kick, but the bottom line is the ball touched the floor before he made contact with it, therefore it was a knock on ( and please don't pursue the argument it was an attempt at a drop kick).

50/50 calls are the obstruction Ganson gave against Wigan when Sam "scored" early in the 2nd half against Saints - when very similar tries were allowed for Saints against Huddersfield last Friday, admittedly with a different VR.

I think i would be a bit miffed if i was a TJ, we have 6 Refs officiating the game!

I know some do both, but surely the pinnacle of any official is a SL or CC Final, and we seem obsessed with just using Refs.

I am amazed Tony Martin isnt On The Line, he never misses a Sky Game, he is always on one of the televised games.

HW

I also hope the ref and TJs keep an eye on Leeds's pathetic attempts to obstruct Pat when he goes up for a high ball. Mcguire's attempt to put Pat off - jumping a couple of seconds too early to get in Pat's way was lamentable - the irony is it resulted in Wigan's first try.

Meh, just going off SCummings subsequent apology to Leeds for Ganson getting the decision wrong chief. Doesn't quite fit with your theory I know but there you go.

All the Sky commentators/pundits thought it was the correct decision, ie a knock on. Just because Cummings thought it was an incorrect decision doesn't prove anything....!

It was very unfortunate for Leeds and Mcguire, but it was technically a knock on as he lost control of the ball and it hit the ground before it hit his foot. It was not a genuine drop goal attempt - the ball falling to the ground was caused by Sam knocking Mcguire's arm, hence a knock on.

Good stuff. We can pi$$ the ref and VR off as well

Well, seeing as he's in charge of the referees I'd say it proves quite a lot...

Hopefully we'll be on the right side of a VR decision come next Saturday to balance it out

not got a board of you're own to play on? Best make the most of it, if ticket sales are anything to go by, we'll be taking over half of your board soon.

Yeah to save you from getting nilled

Maybe it just proves Cummings doesn't understand the rules of what constitutes a knock on.
See previous post - as proved by the video replays Sam knocking Mcguire's arm forced him to drop the ball. It was not an intentional drop kick or even a deliberate grubber kick where the player kicks the ball on the half-volley for better control.

Leeds were unlucky as without the VR the try may well have been given - having said that the touch judge noticed the "knock on" which is why Alibert went to the VR in the first place.

TBH this is where Leeds may have a genuine grievance as the try would probably have been given if the game had not been televised/had a VR. We've had numerous discussions about this in recent months/years.....!

Oh dear Lord NO !

IMHO he/Bentham, is the only thing that can stop us from hoisting the Cup aloft.