Hhhhmmmm, must be a real feeling for referees to never be wrong, & , if you are factually wrong you are still deemed right & backed to the hilt, such is my game of sport - rugby league !!

Licence for Hicks, Child et al to get away with even more than they already do.

Or alternatively the chance for players and coaches to re-discover the respect for match officials for which our sport was, at one time. renown

In the same article it says we are one of the best behaved in terms of penalties for dissent.

The likes of Billy Thompson and Eric Clay eh? Strict disciplinarians of the time. Then there was the likes of firm but fair Fred Lindop and Stan Jackson. Actually, I never had much respect for Ganson, but I saw him interviewed on Rugby League Back Chat a few weeks ago and he seemed to speak a lot of sense, but didn't seem to quite believe in what he was saying; possibly just referee rhetoric.

It’s ironic they are now talking about this when the worst culprits have either retired or getting to that point ! eg McGuire Sinfield Wilkin Wellens ..... should have been stopped years ago.

Take my hat off to refs ,always one side blames the ref for their defeat even though he isn’t missing the tackle or knocking on.watched an interview with hicks on rugby AM and came over as a decent guy.Its ok to knock em but who would honestly have their job .All I ever hear walking back from the game is how bad the ref has been when in fact it’s been the teams short comings that cost them the game .

I always find the protests to refs as absolutely pointless because they never change their mind, unless it's because of information from another match official.
We don't want to get to the level of the round ball game where the players behaviour to match officials is appalling. The officials (and their ruling body!) tolerate intimidation, from childish, pathetic overpaid morons, who should be red carded for their behaviour.

Good - I hope they follow through and some of the usual suspects get walked; it won't take much to send a message that behaviour has to change. Same for coaches - if Radford or any of the usual whiners make sly digs about the officials in their post-match comments, do them an all.

You only have to watch the other code to see how it's done and the referees are respected. Unfortunately over the years RL has lost that which is a massive shame as it was one of the many things that made me a proud supporter of our game.

Who remembers wakefield fans chasing karl Fitzpatrick of the field, in the 80,s ,it wasnt drunken youths or or drugged up bloody idiots ,it was grown men in thier 40.50.,remember me dad saying if i was 10 years younger i would have been on the field, lol

Late 90's against Sheffield Eagles. Probably not one of the clubs best moments, but brings a smile to my face thinking about it

Was there for that, not condoning what happened,but he penalised Wakefield remorselessly that day with little going against Sheffield.
Despite all the talk on here of todays referees, and their apparent bias, they have not come close to what happened that day.

Obviously not you as it was Karl Kirkpatrick.

close

If I remember right think he got chased of Wakefields ground more than once. My favourite memory is a Wakefield fan who was a lady attacking Eric Clay at the end of a game at Odsel with her umbrella

According to an official who went to see Karl Kirkpatrick after he was chased from the pitch, Kirkpatrick wanted to report someone for hitting him on the backside with an umbrella during the chase. After discussing it with the police he decided not to take any option. On leaving the dressing room the officer said 'After that performance I'm surprised they didn't shove it up his backside and open it'

Ah yes! Remember that Kirkpatrick incident well. Chased off by fans then under police escort. Statement from Club said that those doing the chasing would be banned "sine die", but I still saw them attending matches for years after.

I'm sure that it was 2 brothers that chased him off the pitch.

Tweedledum n Tweedledee

I think I recall the brothers that you mean, but there were others also.

Also remember a wakefield fan entering the field when playing wigan at home in the 90,s and giving the ref some advice, lol

Twins actually big wakefield fans

Also known as the Tomato Twins?

Yes twins think picture was in the Wakey express, defo seen a photo of it.