I don't think there is much more anyone can do, save possibly bringing in temporary fads such as PTB this season, then forgetting about it. From the limited gene pool available refs are as fit as they have ever been but are dealing with a product that has developed stretching the rules to an art. I am happy enough with Smith & Sharp but thought I had read it was temporary.

It is. Roby is being lined up.

By FA. With a gun. In the study?

No, the Dining Room. And with the lead piping.

Found it hard to really dislike the guy after his appearance at the BISA Q & A session a few years back. Pleasant, personable and clearly loved the game - maybe refs should do that kind of thing more often, then maybe fans could see them more as general human beings, rather than the ogre with the whistle doing 'our' team down all the time?

Why would anyone put themselves forward for the kind of unwarranted abuse officials get if they did not love the game? One bitter inbred has a grudge against Cummins for not sending off Dean Sampson 20 years ago, another is celebrating because refs no longer are staying at Leeds Carnegie accommodation as that obviously swayed them in favour of the Carnegie Rhinos. Officials often give up professional careers to do this stuff for nothing but criticism. Strangely, players seem to have far more actual respect, despite having more to lose.

What you say does lead to my last sentence though.

With the refs being full time it may well be a good idea to make visiting clubs, at social, or 'meet the ref' events, a part of the their job description. We do make much of our players being 'approachable' and part of the community so, on the face of it, having the refs in the same sort of position, seems to have a lot of positives if we want them to have a similar standing to players. It's difficult to dislike someone you were sharing a joke with a week or so ago.

I appreciate it may not be ideal for the younger ones with, shall I say a lesser developed personality, but most refs are a bit older anyway, so probably wouldn't find it quite such a challenge.

I wouldn't have any objections as long as it was facilitated in the right way. I've been to enough events, not necessarily RL ones, where the quality of the questions were pathetic (not mine Adey) & you left feeling embarrassed. I could also imagine the bitter inbred hillbillies' paranoia spreading to 'Child has been to 8 functions in Leeds but only 7 in Wigan, which shows the RFL's hatred of Wigan'. Obviously they wouldn't be able to put it as eloquently as that.

Well, the first question at the meeting with Stu Cummings was, "Does Russell Smith know the rules", which I guess was not meant as a compliment, but it made everyone laugh (including Cummings) so it broke the ice somewhat..

The same Russell SMith who a number of inbreds are suggesting as the saviour of RL refereeing?

If it's the same Russ Smith who played on the wing at Bradford many years back and then took up refereeing [ I think due to injury] and then went to Aussie, where I thought he still was, btw - then yes, I guess it is.

Russell Smith is the man who was directly and personally responsible for allowing the infamous non-try "wide to West" to be scored, first by giving an outrageous penalty, but more to the point, then allowing it to be taken quickly despite some Saints players being several yards offside, and despite that week's specific refereeing directive to clamp down on precisely this infringement.

Not that I bear a grudge, or anything.

You wouldn't let it lie

Brace yourselves guys and gals, Roby is only coming back to Odsal for the Salford game.

Still, at least we have a week to prepare.

I can't help see the irony in it being April 1st...