In my opinion (and I'm sure there are many more who share this thought), Refereeing standards in Super League are beyond a joke. Watching the NRL 9's and a bit of Yawnion over the last few weeks, I've seen some fantastic fast-flowing rugby that is a credit to how the referees let the game be played.
For example, the referees seem to detest letting play quickly get back under way. We've seen countless times where Houghton or Azza have been pulled back for trying to take a quick tap, Or play brought back because the referee isn't ready for a 20m tap. They even waste time bringing a scrum back because someone is slightly out of position.
They're also incapable of making the right decisions on their own. If a Video Ref is available, you'll be sure that he'll be called for most tries. The video ref was completely taken away from the NRL 9's and the weekend produced some of the most exciting and fast paced rugby I've seen on TV and this was partly due to no time being wasted checking for every single error. Now I'm not suggesting they take the video refs away as some calls do need to be scrutinised, but the refs need to grow a pair and learn to make their own decision. Maybe put a limit on number of video ref decisions, I don't know, but the RFL need to pull their heads out of their s because one thing's for sure, it's just not good enough.

Don't think you'll get many arguments over the standard of refereeing. The big question is what the RFL needs to do to improve things.

If the RFL did anything about it, it could start a chain of events that could destroy the very fabric of the space time continuum.........

Great Scott!

The pace and style of union makes it much easier to referee. Yes the standard of refereeing is poor in the SL, but we have neither to money or methods to change that, unfortunately its just something we're stuck with. Having said that 99% of the time the best team wins, regardless of the referee.

Can save money by making them part time again, they don't deserve full time contracts!

Surely it can't cost that much money to tell the referees to grow a pair? They manage to introduce all these ridiculous ules every year, why not take a few away and give the paying fans what they want? They obviously don't listen to the fans, and how could they? Like I said in my earlier post, their heads are too far up their own s.

But isn't this the RFL again? It's difficult to tell whether the referees are good or bad and many things that we all complain about stem from the rules being applied as per the rule book , eg , not allowing quick restarts. The refs when you speak with them individually are generally ok and always say that often it's the coaches that are behind rule changes that we don't like. Refs will always be good bad and indifferent and will make mistakes which we will scream about. It's/they are part of the game. Their management , the rules , interpretation etc come down to the wonderful RFL and as with many things that's where change is needed.

Thaler looked like he had put on a bit of timber, maybe they deliberately stop play for a breather!

I believe the situation is being made worse by the clique who appoint the referees.

On friday we had 2 so-called referees running touch - they also got a referee job on Sunday.

I have heard that only a favoured few are being looked after and younger refs are finding it harder to break through, although they should be given TJ roles to help them.

Noticed it was Child and Hicks. You'd imagine they'd have seen more of the forward passes than they did.

Referees have always been bad. The only good referee is the one that makes decisions in your favour.

Cameras have made the problem ten times worse - get rid of VR's and live replays.

Then it will be no better or worse than it is at the moment, but at least you'll be making judgements based on roughly the same terms as the poor old ref.

Thaler is very much in the ganson mould. In his eyes the game is about him as much as the players.

I think, like football, the players and coaches need to take some responsibility as well.

They are trying more and more underhand tactics to try and win penalties or con the referees.

How many times do we see players holding the tacklers shirt to stop them been able to get off? Thus winning a penalty for holding down. Or diving when trying to get up and play the ball. Making it look like interference has taken place.

Or my pet hate. Players moving off the mark to play the ball. Ryan Atkins is a master at that.

Far too much moaning about referees. If you are that upset. About it, take a refs course and become one.

When players do not knock on or miss tackles or always make the right choice, inlay then can the officials be blamed for results.

Yep. The constant bleating about referees is getting ridiculous, to the point where we have to listen to Stuart Cummings on Sky explain even the most obvious decsion.
Also, I don't understand why everyone goes on about how great the refering is in Aus. Frankly, it's as bad there as it is here.