football has spent millions on refereeing. yes they still make errors but they are miles better than they were 10 years ago. RL is a pub sport in comparison. they have one man who wasn't that great himself.
I will say that the last 3 games I've seen child do he's been very good. he's let the game flow. really managed it well. I hope he keeps improving.
it's a difficult job and there aren't a lot coming through.
also a referee shouldn't be dropped after making a fu*k up. players aren't.
if they make lots of bad errors or have 3 bad games in a row then yes. I moan too but fans expect refs to be perfect but if a player messes up he's only human. standards need to improve yes, we need more refs too so encourage kids to do it.
I was a decent semi pro footballer but I got into reffing by accident and it took me far higher, and to a lot of iconic grounds I was never good enough to play at

I wonder how many of the people that criticise and verbally abuse referees, have ever refereed a game themselves, or hold referring or coaching qualifications.

Bloody hell, you think this lot are $hite? Back in the day there were the likes of Mick Naughton, Stan Wall, Fred Lindop...

Truly a "good old days" scenario - except in reverse

Hate this argument.....

Wonder how many people criticising players have played pro
Wonder how many people criticising politicians have ever been a politician
Wonder how many people who criticise food in a restaurant have been a chef
Wonder how many people who complain about NHS have been a doctor
Wonder how many people who criticse s for leaving a mess have been a
Etc etc etc

People can have an a perfectly valid opinion based on what they've seen and experienced without having done the job themselves.

Exactly agree 100% i'll also add nobody in their right mind expects perfection but lets be straight far too many blatantly wrong calls are getting made week after week & i dont mean fwd passes or knock ons game changing incidents like Westwood on Sutty Obstruction trys given one week yet not the next etc etc.

Thaler has gone backwards since 2015 however him and Bentham are the only ones who have any decent rapport with players. The others almost determined not to have any and don't work to work with the players to make a match as good as it can be. Think this has played s part in more ref/player dissent incidents.

Child to be fair to him has actually been a little better just lately because he finally seems to have realised not every game needs dozens of penalties.

Doesn't seem to be good enough communication between the Match Officals Department and coaches/clubs judging by some interviews by coaches who seem to be at a lost with them.

Whilst I understand concerns about criticisms of referees, it shouldn't go the other way of "don't say nothing" because we don't have a game without then, or setting an example. Because nothing will change if you take the latter approach and sweep it all under the carpet,

^ Excellent post.

I dont think the standard of referees has dropped really but some fans seem more obsessed in watching the ref than the players.

Guy behind me in Carnegie spends 80 mins just constantly moaning at ref. If a Leeds player gives an obvious and clear penalty away that's not the players fault it's cos the ref is biased. Leeds haven't conceded a try all year that wasn't caused by a referee's mistake.

A few weeks ago we outplayed Salford on the day and won comfortably yet some moron threw his beer at the ref who had no bearing on the result. At Wigan last week a guy near me who I've sat near before just constantly begging for a penalty at every play the ball and was adamant we was been cheated in a game where the opponents were simply too good for our young team.

It's a tough job and if you accept they will make mistakes from time to time and accept that players decide the outcome of games not the refs then things will seem better.

We have a group of inexperienced refs at the moment learning their trade but jeez the days of Whitfield, Lindop and Kershaw was no better than now.

I think what fans moan about the most is when they perceive that the ref is being inconsistent.
This seems to me to be especially the case at the PTB - not surprising I suppose when they are the most frequent events in any game.
Your side seems to be penalised for flops or hands on the ball whilst the opponents don't.
Being biased I think that Ablett & JJB get penalised for such offences far more than Roby or O'Loughlin for example who to my mind are equally culpable.
I actually agree with the poster who said that Child has improved this year but I'd always rather watch a game reffed by Thaler who apperas to let the game flow more & has a better rapport with the players.

Interesting thread. My take on it is that all the teams try to bend the rules and each ref has his own Interpretation of keeping the 10 and just how long he will allow the defenders to hold down without calling a penalty.The team who does these things right to the limit generally win the game I'd say?Hull/Radford have Bentham on a string this year and seem to play him spot on,added in the Fonua hip hop routine every time he's tackled milking penalties generally simulating football style. Enjoy the semi final and good luck

The reason for poor quality is because they are not accountable. They can put in what ever performance and they continue the week after. There isn't enough of them. The move to full time doesn't work, they haven't improved any since that move. Have more available, and make them accountable, and an improvement would be quick.

For over 60 years I have never felt the standard of RL referees has been good enough or they are as good as RU referees.

I would call for the refs to apply the rules sympathetically which means not blowing up for first offences that are not affecting play but warn the player concerned that he will penalise next time he sees it. Above all they should be consistent and maintain fairness. I favour having second referees and having help from the VR. If there is doubt in a try being scored the question posed of the VR is simply 'is there any reason for not awarding the try'? and this should include forward passes.