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?