I just can't take people seriously who say refs are bent, or the results of games are pre-determined. If you really believe that, why bother watching? I thought it was a terrific contest tonight, and much more open than I expected. Some great footy from both sides (which was far from guaranteed after our dismal effort against Wire), and as for that penalty; yes, it was a pen, to the letter of the law, but they're often let go, and if I was a Leeds fan I'd probably feel a bit hard done by. Still, I'm very happy with what I feel is a deserved win. They are are all union fans in the pubs down here, and everyone who watched said how much they enjoyed the game, and how exciting it was.

Your coach called a ref bent a few weeks ago.

Just on the forcing the ref to make a decision thing; I've been used to seeing it in the NRL and was in favour of its introduction into SL. But, funnily enough, it seems to have brought up so many incidents this year, both here and in Oz, that I'm actually changing my mind about it now.

Yes, and more fool him for speaking like that, however literally he meant it. I stand by my comment.

Maybe i was a little over emotional.....but i do honestly believe the video ref creates more controversy than it solves. There seems to be no consistency when to call for it and it still more often boils down to subjective opinions. It most definitely detracts from the excitement of the moment and to have such exciting flowing rugby repeatedly scrutinised for technical infringements is not healthy for the spectator sport it is meant to be.

I have stated elsewhere it was a cracking match with some lovely footy from both sides and a draw would have been a fair result. Such is sport. Funny how your lads always seem to be written off on your forum the week before they play Leeds.....? Williams always seems to get stick but whenever i see him (against Leeds ) he looks to be a real star in the making ...your much maligned forwards also stood up.
Cuthbertson is still head and shoulders above any though....and if Garbutt had made it you would def have lost....maybe.

Calling for the VR to check if Handley was onside was a complete joke. The guy was 8 metres behind the kicker.
I notice he didn't ask them to check if Farrell was onside when Burgess kicked through which must have been much tighter.
But he did ask to check if Bowen was onside when he scored.
What I don't understand is why the VR can't intervene when there has been a clear error as there was for the Smith knock on?
Surely the VR is there to correct errors?
They do that in RU.
Lost balls are always a lottery & usually a guess.
Strip or loose carry?
50/50, I wouldn't mind if for the sake of consistency the call always went in favour of the attacking side but it doesn't, yet it's nearly always a guess.

Never been keen on this new ref sending it upstairs as a try/no try scheme. You don't know if he's 90% confident, 70% confident or it's a 50/50 guess. Too often under this new way it seems like the VR is trying to do his job with one hand tied behind his back by this new system. I've seen a few this year were the VR seems to have wanted to give the opposite decision but has felt inclined to go with the ref's call. Seemed like how many times he viewed the one tonight was like he perhaps wanted to go try but couldn't because of the on-field no try.

Their should at least be a third signal he could make at times when he's really not sure and defers making a judgment call and it's completely in the VR's opinion.

Also, surely Ben Thaler has to ref both the CC and Grand Finals whoever gets there. He's the only one good enough.

Oh but they do intervene when it suits.The Makeinson try in the GF when it was 50/50 wether he knocked on before grounding it being a prime example.

Noticed but not pulled for a penalty- which is another issue with the VR system, you can be better off not scoring sometimes! (eg if you get tackled short and then score on the next play)

Fully agree. The most annoying thing about this is If Silverwood thought no try because of obstruction he should have called it during the play.Otherwise, he sends it upstairs as a try with the possibility of obstruction because like you say, had say Cuthbertson died with the ball, played it and Mcguire dived over the try would have to stand.I feel try would have been awarded had it gone upstairs as a T-R-Y, and rightly so.The obstruction rule needs checking again for syre, but also the refs need educating too on how they consult the VR.

Does anyone wonder how much of an influence Stuart Cummins has over these decisions ?

His desperation for the "try" to be disallowed last night was evident from his hissy fit at Brian Carney along the lines of "I'm right, it's not a try". I can't think for one second that the VR cannot here what he is saying and is influenced by it ? Still, I could be wrong.

Was the decision to disallow the "try" last night, any different from Cummins desperation to allow the Wardle try for Huddersfield (away), when, from memory he seemed to suggest it was Adam Cuthbertson's responsibility to get around the defender to attempt to stop Wardle ? If that's the case Tomkins had plenty of time get get around Watkins as he was practically at the side of him when Watkins ran through ?

Another poster mentioned the onside/offside thing as well for Farrell's try, which would have been interesting to see again as it was very tight (along with the blatant forward pass for the pass before Burgess got it).

Overall though, in the grand scheme of things, it was a great game. I though a draw would have actually been a fair result, however, you doff your cap to Wigan, and move on. With Hardaker, Briscoe, Ward, JJB, Garbutt, and Achurch out to take Wigan all the way to the wire with them near full strength (did they just have Gelling and Manfredi out ?) we should take a lot away from that game...apart from the 2 points !!

The Onside/Offside for the Farrell try looked very close for me on second viewing.

After seeing it from behind the sticks I was shocked Silverwood didn't send it upstairs

A good in which played as well as Wigan. They didn't get the rub of the green decision wise it happens. A couple of poor decisions in attack - one from McGuire and poor execution from Aiton and poor ref decisions would not have mattered.

The concern is the form of certain players: Hall looks out of condition and over weight. Ablett is inconsistent at best and his error count and penalty give aways cost the game. Moon looks a shadow of the player he was.

Still lots of positives with two games to go Leeds should finish top going into the split

At the time I thought it was a terrible decision, but after having time to consider the decision, whilst not agreeing with it, I do believe it is in line with the current interpretation. McGuire actually crossed behind Watkins before passing the ball, we have seen players pulled for that many times in open field even when the "obstructing" player doesn't make contact with the defenders. You could see from the replays that the VR seemed to want to give the decision, but he kept going back to McGuire's crossing behind Watkins. IMO that is the difference between that try and the one where Cuthbertson was obstructed a few weeks ago.

The RFL do need to consider the obstruction rule but I do believe it was refereed in line with current policy.