That is exactly my point about Child, when he reffed Leigh v Wakefield. On reviewing his decisions against Leigh, there can be no dispute that they were correct. Our 'discipline' was at fault. It's just that his decisions all went one way - for me, it seemed that Wakefield got away with more, because of our indiscipline. (sounds crazy, I know, but he didn't appear to see their indiscretions)

Now, we then got Child again, for the Sheffield match and it appeared that he was carrying on from the previous game. To issue a 'team warning' on conceding our FOURTH penalty, (when Sheffield had already conceded FOUR) seemed a bit hasty, and not at all impartial. It was a nailed-on certainty, that we would get someone sin-binned in the next set, and that is exactly what happened to Ridyard - a player who isn't exactly high up on anyone's list of 'sinners'!

I'm sure no ref is 'biased' but all we can ask is that they are a bit more even handed in controlling these games.

On the subject of SL referees, is it just my imagination that they allow defenders more time to clear the tackle, than Championship refs do?

Just watched the SL Show and in the cold light of day - the Widnes passes complained of were indeed objectively forward - two of them shockingly so, to the extent that I find it hard to accept a pro ref could claim not have been fully aware of it. No wonder the Bulls players - usually very phlegmatic - were spitting chips, and almost got into more bother with Cobb. They knew. Everybody in the ground knew.

Perfect summary for me - only twice this season have I wanted to head butt the floor in frustration and only twice.

Leigh away on Widnes at home - common denominator is Cobb.

My heart sank when I saw the announcement and what followed was utterly predicatable...

He looks about 12 - so we appear to have a lot of years ahead where we have to live with this problem

I'm surprised you say that since I've thought it was the opposite. In the championship refs seem to run the game at the speed of the slowest team whilst SL refs seem to run at the speed of the fastest, if I'm honest it's one of the most infuriating aspects of this division.

indeed, some of the holding down and lying-on we've had to put up with this season has been awful to watch and has degraded many a game.

Ah Vans second try should have been made chalked off for a foot in touch too, no excuse for a touch judge missing that right in front of him. I thought it had at the time, but obviously I was a lot further away than the blind touchie. Let's hope we don't miss out on points difference because of poor refereeing. At the end of the day though, we need to be better and our defence was just too soft in that 2nd half. It was disappointing to see our effort levels dip once the result was beyond us.

To me, the PTB's seem to have been slower, during our Qualifiers, with Thaler, Silverwood and Child (twice) in charge.

To be fair, the touchie did spot it and held his ground by the corner flag instead of running to the goal line, as he would if he'd thought it OK. Cobb just overruled him, presumably.

To be honest, I feel Thaler is probably the best ref in the game at the moment [opinion formed watching games on Sky] and Silverwood is usually pretty decent. All refs, like players and the rest of us, have their good and bad days of course, and commit howlers from time to time. Never liked Mr Child though, far more capricious [think that's the right word..] than most and universally hated at Odsal - not as much as another bloke I could mention though....I do wonder if they base decisions on the fact that the crowd don't like them?

Maybe he could follow in the footsteps of another crowd favourite, Ashley Klein, and sod off to annoy them in Oz.

If the touch judge had ruled a foot in touch he would surely of raised his flag?

Yes I noticed he did that too. trouble is, i can't find anything in the rules about it. It seems if he rules a player did go into touch then he MUST immediately raise his flag and that's it, the ref cannot overrule him. But he didn't raise his flag. So I presume he had a doubt. Which Cobb ignored. Bad though Cobb was, if the touchie is NOT saying Paddy stepped into touch, and there's no VR option, what else can he do but award a try?

Thaler's the best we have had. (in one victory and one defeat) Seems to have a good rapport with the players, and actually knew the Christian names of our players, ("Get back Sam, leave it Sam, walk away Sam" ) rather than call them all "you" a la Silverwood, who has been admittedly better (in two defeats) than Child. (one victory, one defeat and one draw)

Of course, Cobb has been much better than any of the above!! (in two victories)

The convent is (according to Refs course ) is; on deadline if try is good, stand on corner flag if unsure, stand two yards down the sideline if an offence has been spotted.

Wow just seen Ah Vans second try. Not even a close decision! Touch judge stood his ground, but should he have put his flag up? Even then as he has stood his ground Cobb should have consulted him.