Stepping away from the whole refereeing issue for a moment, the most pleasing aspect for me is that we have taken 7 points out of 8 in the games against Wigan, Saints, Bradford and Catalans, and we should really have got all 8. The Leeds team of a year ago would probably have lost all of these games (granted, the Huddersfield result was in and amongst these games, but losing badly to them at home is our new yearly tradition it seems). The difference in our defence in the space of a year is very impressive.

I suspect the pool of refs is larger in the NRL so they can afford to drop those that underperform. Over here we only have 7 fulltimers IIRC so the guys you bring up from the lower leagues have had less time to prepare and are unlikely to be much better than those they replace. We're stuck with what we've got.

I don't think there's a short term fix to refereeing standards. Using the video ref sounds ok in theory but you run the risk of the video ref getting too involved and the man in the middle becoming superfluous or too much being "sent upstairs" for an opinion. You would still get mistakes, even when the video ref has a good view.

In the longer term we need to attract more people into the job, support and train them properly and protect them from abuse so that they don't give up along the way.

I agree.and we were only well beaten by Hudds. by a half back with a quality kicking game exposing a rookie winger as they were not busting us down the middle.

The intensity as a whole seems to have returned so far to our weekly round performances and the defence has been very good.just improve our discipline a notch and we will be a tough team to beat.

Careful. Remember I have said nothing against your hero for a while

I've said it for a while AG re-VR's getting involved he could also have told Thaler Bailey did not make contact with Bosc's head.
From my own pov i'd rather they get it right whilst using the VR or the VR having a word than some of the awful calls we are witnessing.
Also on a few occassions i've seen teams plead with Bentham and Silverw##k to go to the VR and they have yet when others have asked its been ignored.
Again it makes you wonder what they do during the week because they make the same bad calls time and time again its about time they were "coached2 and faced some sort of comeback for p!$$ poor efforts.

Fire at will. Free country. Opinions are what we're here for.

On other occasions it's looked to me as if a ref daren't give a try without referring it to the VR. Some happy medium is what I want to see.

It was a failing of Cummings and the RFL that they did not communicate with supporters about the move to make refs fully professional and to clarify the weekly contentious decisions in the media. From what I hear Cummings did precious little communication with coaches either so it's no wonder standards slipped.

Despite all that I think we need to recognise that it's a hard job. Coaches are forever making it harder for refs with their concentration on the ruck area and it must be a nightmare to police that in some games. Players are often trying as hard to win a penalty as they are to win the game.

What we need is a partnership between all parties to move the game forwards. I'd like to see fewer rule changes each season especially those which are massively open to interpretation. I'd consult with all but be careful to keep a balance. The last time coaches got too much of a say we had the unlimited interchange.

Agreed

Why bother with video refs?
Yes have it referred to the Video but let the man in the middle make the deciosn without having to rely on the VR.
I would also use the video for what looks like a high shot and stop putting incidents on report.
Let the man in the middle grow a pair and stand up and be counted for his decisions.

This. VR's are only available for some matches so refs have to be able to make a decision and back their judgement.
Referees controller, referees and clubs need to work together to improve both standards and the games image. Unfortunately when these have their own agendas then it becomes more difficult.

Leeds received eight while conceding sixteen - making a total of twenty-four. Not sure the spectacle, such as it was, could cope with an even higher count than that. Is that what McDermott is asking for here?

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Some posters have mentioned the two penalties conceded immediately after the interval. Spare a thought for the official trying again to set the standard early and get the game moving after a pretty turgid opening forty minutes. IMO he waited too long to issue the official warning or use the sin-bin for offences that occurred after it - choosing even to ignore some rather than penalise knowing it would inevitably incur a yellow card and further unbalance the contest. He even had to remind the Leeds captain that the warning was still in place even after Bailey was dismissed.

It's too easy to blame the official trying to get a flowing game on when the players (presumably under instruction) are out to spoil and slow the game down to a standstill.