You wonder whether there's something of a grudge towards Child from the players following last year's Hardaker incident and what he did or didn't put in his report.

He certainly couldn't have contributed less on Friday than Mulhern did.

When we've lost/losing games before we can get a bit mouthy/frustrated with the offical, but Friday (as well as the Child game with the Hardaker incident in) was on another level, similar to how it was with Silverwood post WCC.



I definately think our players don't like him, and I'm not saying that's right btw. It's something our players need to address and not allow to happen in future games with him, because now that the RFL finally gave him a Leeds game for the first time since we'll probably see him a bit more often now so our guys need to grow up a bit and not sulk with him.



McGuire's snappy comment to him along the lines of "it's not all about you you know!" I think probably highlights perfectly the opinion of him in the Leeds dressing room.

imo i believe that mulhern has far more to offer the rhinos long term than yates does



i may be proved wrong on this but i believe that yates was a project that was worth the investment until a better project from within appeared,i believe that mulhern is a far better player to have on our rosta to use going forward

I heard that as well and thought at the time it was bang out of order. To be honest the fact that Child let that pass did him credit in my book. Danny and the rest of the team, if they have an issue with him, need to get a grip and act like professionals. We can't pick the ref and being into his ribs from start to finish won't do us any favours or get us the benefit of any doubt.

I agree we need to get a grip and act like professionals.



I would say that Child said to McGuire that that was the FOURTH time he had to speak to McGuire. Don't know what he said on the previous three, but those added to the last one should've seen McGuire in the sin bin. So even though he's on the end of the abuse, I think he's shown once again to be a poor ref by not punishing him as it's not going to stop it happening in the future.....he didn't even really give him an ominous "one more time and you'll get a card".....just seems so weak to me. Even Warrington players were threatening to boil over at one point with Sims and Hill in particular and probably only because the margain was so big with so little left did the bitterness simmer down in the final moments. I mean Leeds/Warrington games are usually played in good spirits compared to some of our games vs some of the other guys from the wrong side of the Pennines, but not on this occasion with this referee.

As the referee seems to be the main point of discussion, I'm surprised nobody has mention Simms' forearm to Sinfield's face.

The problem he has is that he can be hugely pedantic about the smallest things in a game, which gets players wound up, then he just turns a blind eye to stuff like Sims's forearm smash on Sinfield, which exacerbates it.



Combine it with a widely held belief that he considers himself aloof and the centre of attention, and it's no wonder that a lot of players seem to have a problem with him. It's not just Leeds games where he's had problems keeping control of both sides.

Mulhern got the token last 5-10 minutes when the game was done and both sides were playing out the clock. May as well have left him sub not used.

On a more positive note, thought Delaney had his best game of the season. Looked strong and didn't shy away from the hard stuff.

I presume that one will be put to the video panel. I hope so anyway - it wound me up seeing it on Friday night. Someone should have given Sims a sly slap or something back.

Child problem has always been he sees too much, i forget who but i read an interview with a ref...Silverwood or Cummins i think?



They mentioned how you just have to let certain things go so that the game flows better...main one being the play the ball, if they put the ball down and at least look like they've played it right even though the foot doesn't touch, they let it slide.



Refs will always miss things too, human nature.



The trouble with Child is he is pinging players for the stuff the others are a little bit more patient with and missing the really important stuff which doubly frustrates players.

I prefer the older style of reffing, let the game play out, let the big forwards 'sort out' those getting a bit sneaky and pushing the limits.