So if there’s inconsistency between the weekly rounds and the big games, and people like the way the big games are officiated, why not officiate every game like that? Without the foot in touch stuff of course…

people always say, in any sport, we just want consistency from officials.
it's not always possible but when you have a video referee who saw it and ignored it you have to ask why?

I honestly think it’s the fear of future litigation for brain injury victims.

So do I, in which case why allow it for the finals? It’s either ok or it’s not. Half pregnant?

No it’s overeating and wine.

I guess in a rare occurrence you could let more go. You would still get sanctioned if you cross a line (see Ben Flower). It seems to be more the repetitive injury without time to heal that’s the issue - unless you’re talking significant trauma which can happen with or without overzealous refs.

There is a conflict between what speccies want to see, what players want to do and what is safe.

The risk of future brain injury being traced back to a GF is slim; everything is a balance of risk isn’t it?

Bad decisions are spoiling our game and all I can say is that I am so glad it was not us in the final on the wrong end of multiple rank bad refereeing decisions that were game changing. If it had been I think this thread would have been red hot.

Agree. Thought Catalan were very very hard done to

In what way was Catalan hard done by? A couple of calls went against them. That happens in every single game. The Coote knock back from touch was a poor call and the picking out of Tomkins ptb was strange in a game of 300 ptbs. The officials make genuine mistakes every game, the players make mistakes every game and coaches make mistakes every game. It happens with human beings. As a team you have to defend them.

Moore is a decent young referee. The best young ref we have actually. He couldve handled the ruck better in the 1st half but the 2nd half rucks was very good.

You know when you get a good game, as Saturday's was, the ref usually contributes to that but rarely gets praised.

You will never get consistency because the referee has to manage the game, if they blow everytime theres an offence you wouldnt have a game. The game is so fast they cant always get the right angle to see everything and even then they cant see thru a mass of bodies. Its a very difficult job and a job you can easily make a scapegoat of.

Referees run miles in a game, players get to switch off when in possession, refs dont get that luxury. They are expected to look left and right at same time to make sure nobody is offside while also looking forward at ptb whilst getting an angle to see if the 1st pass is flat or forward. The ball is shifted quickly 20m one way the ref has to move with it to make sure they have right angle to see the tackle but somebody like Walmsley gets in the way. "High tackle ref how did u miss that ref are you blind u cheat?" The ball gets dropped or is it stripped? Ref cant see cos theres 4 bodies in that area. Opposition gets the ball and he gives play on. Most of the players have to run 5m to get in position but the ref has to run 20m, cos hes 10m back for 1 team and then has to switch, and by time hes run 15m the ball has been played and people are screaming and begging for offside. Just think about that and how tough the job actually is.

you're happy with the video ref ignoring matautias firearm to the face?

It was a great game and the Ref (who I agree Marty have very very tough jobs) had a decent game imo, however the video ref did not. Matautia should have seen red for one.

Interesting that with all the talk of consistency, no-one has brought up the fact that Coote got 1 match ban for sliding into Myler with the knees, no contact with the head, but Yaya got nothing for sliding into Nagama with contact to the head.

Maloney put the forearm in the face, Mautautia replied with a punch, if any action it should be the same for both.

Is the video ref allowed to intervene for foul play unless ref asks him to look at it? I could be wrong but I thought that was changed 2 years ago?

It was handbags started by Maloney tho in truth.

maybe was handbags but it's a sending off offence which has been implemented all season but ignored on saturday. you cant pick and choose which games you enforce the rules

it's like the VR in the champions league final ignoring a handball on the goal line as he doesnt wants red card to spoil the game.

Theres no comparison between the 2 at all.

If anything it was 10 mins to both players and no more. Like u agree, handbags. Happens weekly.

yet he got a ban for striking.......

Honestly I'm with Marty here - we spend way too much time complaining about referees. If you get your act together as a team you can pretty much take the ref out of it. Control what you can control.

There were a couple of bad calls but when the owner of Cats starts calling for neutral referees it's getting really silly.

Give the refs a break, they're trying to do the best they can. If we want to attract more referees and increase standards maybe speccies should start by not roasting them at every single opportunity, 80% of the time just because of sour grapes.

as someone said, those calls go against leeds in a final it's different

I dunno. Saints deserved the win on the night they were the better side. Ref tried to let the teams get on with it and play the game. One or two clear errors but I have no complaints.

Those errors went both ways as well.

Kasiano and Garcia would have been sat down for 10 minutes for high shots based on semi final reffing. Naiqama could argue for a 8 point try with Yaha leading with the knees to the head in the act of scoring his second try etc.

In terms of protecting players from injury, brain or otherwise, sliding in with the knees like Yaha did was far more dangerous than the handbags from Matautia.

We need to get things in perspective.

The 2021 Saints Matautia is nothing on the one from the late 90s. Him and Sonny Nickle would put players out injured for 6-8 weeks with broken jaws and get bans to match (if it was done on Sky).

Remember them well. Nickle in particular was a dirty so n so..

Born in Leeds as well