And with equal respect, a few of them need to learn how to use them.

I don't expect infallibility. Refs are human, it's a fast moving game, and things will be missed. Maybe utilising the TJs more would help there. Who knows.

I [ido[/i expect a [iprofessional[/i referee to know the rules and apply them consistently to both sides for the entire 80 minutes. All too often that simply isn't the case.

I don't think Alibert "had it in" for FC, but he was unduly influenced by the home crowd baying for a penalty at every single PTB IMO. Wigan were guilty of holding down too but FC were penalised disproportionately. I'm disappointed that the refs in general are allowing as much laying on as they are.

Frustration will eventually make people try anything. Livelihoods are on the line here.

My absolute preference is for there to be a functional mechanism for coaches to raise concerns and get some redress without having to open their mouths in public. Sadly that isn't where we are, and no amount of wishing it were otherwise is going to change anything.


I said [ion here[/i. You're welcome to check out the weekly Ref thread, but I honestly can't recall the last time we had a debate about a ref being biased.


No need - I made the point myself on another thread about our inability to play to the ref. I know we're crap at it and have been for years. Of course, whether anyone should [ihave[/i to adapt their game depending on who the ref is and what mood he's in is another thing altogether...

I'm sad to say it but your fans made miles more noise in every department than ours.

Are coaches allowed to write to the RFL to voice their concerns? Intresting one. There must be some form of complaints and comments procedure.

Agreed.

Also agree with most of Kosh's previous post but In saying 'playing to the ref' I meant it is getting up when the ref says so rather than either not getting up or pushing the player down when you get up, its a fine balance between what's acceptable and what's not and unfortunately Hull are getting it wrong more often than not in my opinion.

Apologies on the bias bit Kosh, I missed the bit where you said on here.

I've been moaning about refs since the seventies, and writing to various Rugby mags about it since the eighties. I have come to the conclusion that because we tinker with various rules to make the game a better spectacle we end up getting inconsistency due to intreperating the rules; and its the inconsistency that the average fan gets peed off with. I know all fans rant, usually when their beloved team gets beat, but when everyone has calmed down and talks about rugby league over a pint they all usually moan about inconsistency in refereeing. Take the Saturday televised match where on two ocassions a Bradford player was tackled in the air and they didn't get a penalty. The week before against Wigan, the Bulls and the Warriors both had tries given from what looked more of a forward pass than the one Tickle gave Craig Hall against Harlequins but was disallowed.

I think the refs job is a difficult one and maybe we need an incentive to bring more into the game? Someone said the pool is too small, I would agree with that point. Players have periods where form deserts them and they get dropped. refs are human (I think

) and also suffer likewise - they don't get dropped because there's no one of a sufficient standard to replace them, although I thought Childs had a good game on Friday and I've never really noticed him before.

Maybe agar has some balls after all. Fair play to him. He should have done it publicly like justine did then we may have been kept away from alibert for a few months

Both teams and the Match Commissioner must complete an assessment report. There is also the facility to make written representation to the RFL if a referee's individual performance was of concern.

TBH I would have thought that if enough coaches felt it was such a problem, they would already have requested a meeting with Stuart Cummings and his referees to press their points. The fact that no meeting appears to have taken place speaks volumes.

Is impersonating a SL Coach a serious offence?

No worries.

Not until Friday night we weren't. Odd that the same ref gave us far more leway when we played Hudds at home.

Nail hammer head etc.

Changed slightly. MC will make a report if a coach makes a comment or remark about the official either to the official, the MC or in the press conference (which the MC attends). Coaches are reminded that if they have issues, they can raise them formally with the Match officials controller - but in the heat of the moment, many coaches do vent their spleens to the media.

So in short we need to simplify the rule book, increase the number of refs in the pool and also improve their ability to interpret the new simplified rule book. There you go Cummings! Now get on with it.

The Laws of the Game is already a fairly concise document, especially in comarison to soccer, cricket and union.

What I think is required is publication of the regular notes and interpretation guidelines that are issued to officials. It's seems farcical that they appear to be such a closely guarded secret.

Problem is that no one will ever have looked into the legality of that situation in close detail because apart from us all whining about refs we sort of take it as given it will be that way !! but i am sure that there will be lurking some loophole that makes it open info for all to read ..
maybe not

Fair point. I'd hope they're shared with clubs as a minumum even if not fans?