Regardless of who the ref is and what happens, one set of supporters will feel more hard done by than the others. This tends to be the loosing side. Matter of fact is that if we play our socks off like we did against Wigan in the semi-final no referee can change an amazing performance.

I used to really get bothered about refs... usually because when we played bad it was one of the only ways of blame that made me feel better, especially when Ian Smith used to be in the SL. But... It really doesn't matter. The person you need to worry about is the Third Ref that pushes the button between Try or No Try.

Granted not neccessarily but (I presume from your research) if one of the semi-final referees has been awarded the final for the most recent three Challenge Cup finals it was not an unreasonable conclusion to reach when it became four.

The 2008 Ganson appointment I always saw as being somewhat politically motivated after the lifting of the home town bar that season. IIRC Ganson had been a prime mover behind the lifting of the ban, frustrated by St Helens success in reaching finals that he was consequently barred from controlling.

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I know it's a bit different in terms of Grand Final appointments (with the rounds following thick and fast) but it's also been the convention under the top 8 format for the final appointment to go to one of the officials from the previous round.

Hmmm, now I have read that back...

It may shock you all, but Silverwood is a Leeds fan. He does seem to be quite harsh with you, but that is probably more overcompensating trying not to favour you than being out to get you.

difficult position to put him in, but as you seem to get to every final (5 of last 6 Grand & Challenge cup final?) and he is one of the better refs it is bound to happen.

I suspect Thaler is loned up for the Grand Final.

Leeds with Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps), W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, L, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, L, W, L, L, L, L, L, L, W, L, W, L, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, L, L, W, L, W, W, W, L, L, W, L, D, W, W, W, W, L, W, W, L)

Leeds with Silverwood in charge in Challenge Cup, W, W, L, W)

Leeds V Warrington with Silverwood in charge, L, W)

And in comparison to the same period with all officials, without which those stats have no value?

Was there a little mischief making going on when the Rhinos website illustrated this story with a picture of Silverwood from the WCC?

Silverwood first took charge of a Leeds game on the 22nd February 2002. As there have been a total of 21 other officials to have taken charge of Leeds games over that same period I probably don't have the time to do a line by line breakdown by individual referee let alone the patience to post the results on here.

If his record over the three categories V a combination of all referees is acceptable then here it is: The following covers seasons 2002 to 2012 inclusive

Leeds with Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps): Played 60, Won 40, Drawn 1, Lost 19 ..... 67.5%

Leeds without Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps): Played 311, Won 218, Drawn 7, Lost 86 ..... 71.22%

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Leeds with Silverwood in charge in Challenge Cup: Played 7, Won 5, Drawn 0, Lost 2 ..... 71.43%

Leeds without Silverwood in charge in Challenge Cup: Played 34, Won 26, Drawn 0, Lost 8 ..... 76.47%

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Leeds V Warrington with Silverwood in charge: Played 5, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 2 ..... 60%

Leeds V Warrington without Silverwood in charge: Played 24, Won 17, Drawn 0, Lost 7 ..... 70.83%

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Given the lop-sided appearance of his early record with Leeds some might wonder what the more recent record with Silverwood looks like, lets say over the period 2006 to 2012.

Leeds with Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps): Played 41, Won 23, Drawn 1, Lost 17 ..... 57.32%

Leeds without Silverwood in charge (All Games, All Comps): Played 192, Won 136, Drawn 2, Lost 54 ..... 71.35%

So since 2006, having Silverwood in charge has significantly reduced Leeds' chances of winning?

Technically the chances have always been the same. Its the outcome that been affected

No.

I've provided a few headline stats, it's up to individuals to assess their relevance without more in-depth analysis* and choose how they wish to interpret the results for themselves.

*Silverwood, as you might expect, has been appointed to a greater percentage of higher profile Leeds games over the period 2006 to 2012 than earlier in his career. During the SL Era three clubs have held/still hold a better than 50% points winning record V Leeds - Bradford, St Helens and Wigan - over the period 2002 to 2005 inclusive they represented 21% (4 of 19) as opposed to 34% (14 of 41) over 2006 to 2012 of Silverwood's time in the middle of Leeds fixtures. Leeds' success rate with this official fell from 89.47% to 57.32% when comparing the two periods. Perhaps not all of the reduction was as a result of the higher concentration though.