Don't agree at all. Firstly he let the game flow so credit there.

Secondly aside from marginal calls (like the Ablett knockon/steal and the Sinny/Ferres knock on) I don't think he made any clear cut errors...we expect too much.

The ref doesn't have endless replays and has to call what he sees if their consistent, let the game flow and get most calls correct (and marginal calls will always be debatable) then we can't ask for more.

Oh and as to ablett, can't remember the first one but the one at the end had a hand in, even Eddie changed his mind after the game when they watched many replays after the match

It was correct in the way that most of those type decisions can go either way. Yes the hand was on the ball, yes the ball came out a bit too easily. 50:50 for me and it went our way. If it was at another point in another game no one would have cared too much

Hicks best moment, which differentiated him from other refs, was the handling of the Ablett and Brough incident at the end. What the hell was going through Abletts head I don't know, but where other refs might well have penalised, Hicks came between them to diffuse the situation.

Yeah that was great reffing. A bit reminiscent of the "other code" one of the few things they do better in the few games I watch is that the refs communicate consistently with the players (albeit some of them, usually the English ones, in a very patronising school master tone)

Had a penalty been given it would have been utterly pot luck which side got it as it really was six of one and half a dozen of the other. Plenty of refs would've thought.

I think Hicks is now the best ref. Yes he gets things wrong, but all decisions from a referee are open to human error.

But I think he manages games very well. He controls situations and doesn't let players bully him. Whichever game it was he reffed last week (can't remember now) he pulled two players to one side and as one started moaning he just interrupted him dead and said "woah, shut it, it's my turn!" and the player did shut it and let Hicks have his say.

Thought he did ok overall and particularly for ignoring the baying from the Huddersfield supporters who shouted en mass for forward passes and offside the whole of the first half.

Hicks is good simply because he lets the game flow actually understands that the TVs camera and fans most importantly are there to watch the players and not the referee.
Childs however thinks it's all about him and that is another thing that him and Stuart Cummings have in common. In fact they are extremely similar in many many respects.
What is amusing though this season is child's has the highest decision overturn rate of any SL referee because he is guessing at decisions. Likewise Cummings makes a total buffoon of himself guessing and lecturing others and the evidence was last night with robinsons no try knock on.
It was obviously a knock on with no downward pressure but Cummings thought it was fine. When he was in charge of referees it was a nightmare and the famous graham Bradley incident should have prevented him from ever entering the field of play ever again.

I too was very impressed with hicks. He was constantly talking to both sets of players, making it clear what he expected and the players responded. There were a couple of moments where I thought the PTB was a bit slow, but other than that, an excellent example of good, effective refereeing. James Child really needs to learn from that sort of performance.

As for the penalty at the end that riled up Paul Anderson, his anger should be on his player. Whether Hicks makes the right decision or not, Ellis invites him to make a decision that he doesn't have to. Ellis could have his hand anywhere, but he chooses to put it in the vicinity of the ball. You can't poke a dog and complain when it bites.

I agree but if a penalty was to be awarded it would have gone our way imo Brough is f##king about at the ptb and then gives it the big un yes Ablett shouldn't have reacted but the instigater was DB.

Yep. Had his left arm on Ablett's right arm all the way through the play the ball process. Nailed on penalty as soon as the ball comes out in those circumstances.

and ablett wouldn't deliberately let go

Except for the incident in the second half when Sinfield had his arm on mcgilvarys left arm at the ptb, ball comes loose and Hicks calls a knock on.

Aye, nailed on......

overall he didn't do too bad,as has been said, he let the game flow but ignored offsides and forward passes

but Leeds got just about every call in their favour in the last 10, i doubt the penalties on ablett and hardaker would have been given if it was the other way round.

but that's the way it goes.

All refs make mistakes.....but the best ones are the ones you 'hardly notice' and have a bit of respect/rapport with the players. Hicks was in that catergory last night.

I find it ironic that it is the generally the VR that now is just as likely to be more inconsistent and plain wrong. ... with the added derogatory indecisive replays we sometimes have to endure. I wonder what changes will be made (again) for next season.