Steve Ganson has retired from refereeing to take up the role of Match Officials Coach and Technical Director at the RFL.

rlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/27468/steve-ganson-retires-to-takerl

Seems like we'll be living in interesting times then....

I suppose he was the obvious choice but I'm surprised it's happened now rather than the end of the year.

I know he wasn't exactly popular amongst Bulls fans but think he was probably one of the better referee's in Super League, the standard at the minute is very poor.

Not sure how we can lose our most experienced ref mid season.

We don't have enough full timers as it is.

Does this count as a ref whinge Tigs?

Well, I, for one, am delighted!

Far too often, the game was all about Ganson, not the two teams. A good referee needs to be assertive, but he is downright arrogant. Come on, who on here hasn't groaned when they've seen he's in charge?!

I'm sure he'll make a good ref's coach, though.

Quite. Kevin Sinfield would have been a better interim appointment.

First Thatcher, now this. What a great week.

He is far less arogant that what silverwood is.

Ganson was never camera shy.. but equally wasnt afraid to make a call on the field and not bottle it.

Least Adrian Morley will be pleased.

Best official we have (had) by some distance.

Millenium 07. Jordan Tansy. No video ref call. The worst referee By a distance.
Halifax 00. Andy Hobson drops and breaks Robbie Paul's ribs. Goodbye and good riddance!!

FFS!!! Get over it.

However, two mistakes in 13 years? This is starting to become a habit.

No it isn't. The standard is as good as it as ever been. Referees of 20 years ago wouldn't have been able to cope with the how the game has evolved now. Attack and defence is all about playing to the edge of the rules with nearl every decision scrutinised from 10 different angles. 99.9% of every decision the make they get right, far more than players.

I've never agreed with this, "people from years ago wouldn't have coped now", argument - whether we're talking about refs or players. If the old time refs had been brought up in today's conditions they would have coped excellently, every bit as good as the ones we have today.

FWIW, which I accept is not a lot, I think the biggest difference between Sgt Major Clay and Steve Ganson is the modern fan, and as you've already mentioned, modern technology, which can analyse decisions in fine detail. Back in the day, people would moan about the ref in the pub and then forget it - now it's all over social media, sometimes with video clips sually proving nothing] and it goes on for weeks on end.

Coming back to Ganson - he was ok; yes, there have been 'issues' [Millennium Stadium, anyone?] and his occasional 'strange' decisions which far more qualified people than myself have found difficult to explain, but they always went both ways. So, he was even handed and mostly correct - sounds about as good as anyone has any right to expect.

> If the old time refs had been brought up in today's conditions

Isn't that the point? Those referees from that time wouldn't cope today, and neither would the part time players. They were products of their era, just as today's officials and referees are.