If there is a big netball match in Sheffield let’s hope it’s on Saturday, shouldn’t they be doing the dinner on Sunday

This isn't a pop at the ref for the weekend, but there are going to be referees fast tracked a lot quicker now than ever before. With the RFL following the NRL and wanting too onfield referees it will force them to fast track more referees. There are barely enough to go around now. I see refs from the conference getting games at Champ/League 1 level that weren't ready for our level let alone pro game.

Also it is what the RFL will expect from them too. I saw a tweet from a regular conference referee who has officiated in th epro game too this year called Michael Mannifield. Saying he is supposed to be a part time official yet was taking control of his 80th game of the year. That for me shows the lack of officials there are available so it is to be hoped the RFL have a plan. Surely they will??? .......

There is a huge shortage of referees and as a result some are being fast tracked too soon. But if they didn't the game wouldn't run. Whilst I get as frustrated as anyone with a ref who loses control of games, I do have sympathy with them as its not their fault they are being put in an impossible situation.

Its a wider game issue though. I've just done the TLM course and part of that role is to protect the younger referees for those who have them.

My sons junior side played over at Cas Lock Lane a few weeks back and they were obviously trying to introduce/help a young ref (can't have been much older than 14yrs) get more game experience. Only issue is that he reffed the under 9's like a SL game (no leeway was given, he called everything... knock ons, forward passes, offside). As a result the young un's got completely disheartened and the parents got frustrated and vocal at the young ref. He now has everyone against him and unless he has very thick skin he'll end up being another lost to the game.

I have no sympathy for those referees who get stick for trotting off the field grinning like a Cheshire cat, loving the attention (Mr "I want to be as orange as David Dickinson" for example), but we have unrealistic expectations on the others who are simply trying to give something to a game which they obviously love too.

How many unforced mistakes have our first team made each game? Probably more than the ref has made I'd suggest.

Perhaps if the RFl are fast tracking more and more referees there is a shortfall in the budget and that is why WE are having to pay them.

Bang on the money mate, and totally agree they need to move on. We had a young referee called Liam Rush I think his name was at Dudley Hill a couple of months back. He had to have been only 16/17 and he handled the game fantastically. Got the respect of the players early doors and was extremely confident in what he did. Can see him being pushed on shortly.

I always thought theyre were some referees at conference level who should have been doing pro/semi pro games more than they did. Maybe by choice they didn't

I think the refs are getting revenge on us for all the hammer their predecessors got when they had the dreaded walk up the hill to the changing rooms. Especially for Ronnie Moore (I think) who got a full lot of poo on him from the police horse escorting him!!!
They never forget!

That's a blast from the past. I was telling my grandson what used to happen and he couldn't believe it.

Pretty sure it's been mens' netball when they've featured it so (donning my tin hat) should be no bother about dinner being ready. I'm not bothered about other sports getting amention, by the way, it just that RL is probably the second biggest sport in Yorkshire and seems to get a raw deal from the Beeb. I think the last time we got a mention was when we last went bust.

The NRL commentators are critical of the pocket referee system - it was noticable in the World Cup when they kept banging on about how you don't need two refs on the field. Actually, there's another point there. The RFL just seem to copy whatever the NRL do these days - 7 tackle sets and pocket referees are two recent examples of that.

Absolutely true not only do they follow but often its a few years after too. SHould international rules stay at one referee it makes the whole thing a joke.

Got to admit though I do like the 7 tackle set rule

Will somebody offer me an explanation of what a pocket referee is, and how a 7 tackle set work's?

Is it not just a free tackle like we have ?

The pocket ref tends to ref the ruck, whilst the lead ref controls the game.

A seven tackle set happens when the ball is kicked dead or caught in goal. The tap on the 20 is 'Free' and the tackle count starts after that.

Well yeah, we do have 'seven tackle sets' (aka free play) in the UK but he had me with pocket referees. I thought it was something about the ref being in some club's pocket..... Just what we need, more Aussie-isms. I still haven't accepted 'field' goal.

They just follow the play and are stood much closer the ptbs. It should hopefully clear up all these 50/50 calls when the ball comes loose and the ref basically has to guess whether it's a knock on or a penalty.
Eddie actually mentioned during last night's game that you very rarely see those types of situations in the NRL these days, and it's because players can't get away with conning the refs when there's one whose sole focus is the ruck.

I think the 7 tackle set is a good rule. Stop teams aimlessly kicking the ball dead so encourages better quality kicking. Think the criticism of the pocket ref over there is overdone. If they didn't have it they would soon have the cynical play we have over here. Bring it on along with 8 subs instead of 10 and a shot clock to limit the time taken to take drop outs.

I'd also bring in a rule whereby if the game stops to treat an injured player he must be removed from the field and cannot rejoin the field for three sets. That would cut down on the play acting to get teams a breather.