That didn't take long...

I'm not distilling his achievements at all - I'm suggesting he's not been punished for poor performances in a consistent manner, and IMO opinion he gets big games despite better referees being available - so rather than turning it into a 'you're a homophobe' debate for daring to ask the question, how about you share your thoughts on his performances compared to other refs - why doesn't he deserve sanction, but Thaler did... Why he gets the big games in the regular rounds etc

For those talking about him not getting finals - I doubt they'd risk giving him the only show piece events we have and ruining it on the biggest stage of all.... I'd argue the fact he gets lots of big regular season rounds but not finals again shows inconsistency...

There's nothing brave about the question you are asking. You arent some straight talking crusader, railing against the evils of political correctness to speak truth to power. You are, on the basis of purr speculation, linking a person's performance in their job to their sexuality. You are suggesting that he is held to a lower standard because of his sexuality. That he has the role he has, and conducts the job he doesnin the way he does it because of his sexuality. It is a textbook example of homophobia. You aren't fighting the good fight here. You're not the hero prepared to take the slings and arrows of PC culture to shine a light on a necessary truth.

Well said Smokey.

I wish I'd written this.

Absolutely spot on.

I cannot abide those who think they're being "brave" challenging "PC nonsense", when all they're really doing is giving vent to ugly prejudice. I'll tell you what bravery is: a gay bloke who every week goes out in front of thousands of people, including some deeply unpleasant knuckle-draggers, to referee a sport which gives us all entertainment and pleasure, knowing every week that those same knuckle-draggers are going to subject him to abuse for being gay, both on and off the pitch.

That's brave.

Suggesting gay blokes get an easier time because they're gay, is cowardly.

Bravo... Now that you've got that off your chest... I think you'll find you've shot your load a little early and thrown out a number of innacuratr claims - you've got lost getting in a hissy fit. Nowhere have I claimed to be some sort of brave crusader, no where have I mentioned his sexuality having any impact on how good he is at his job - the only part of your statement above that is in any way accurate is that I'm questioning if he gets preferential treatment or held to a lower standard - which I think based on his performances, he does.

Since when did the OP say he was "brave" or a crusader for asking the question?

Fact is Child has been getting games such as Lees vs Wigan as far back as 2012, he's reffed Leeds vs Wire 7 out of the last 12 games between the two. When refs get these fixtures they inneviatably end up doing finals and semis, he's not been given a single one yet (others like Hewet and Hicks who became SL regulars AFTER him have done finals) so definitely something out of the ordinary with the way he's appointed to games.

Also with regards to people saying it definitely couldn't happen, we're in the 21st century! Yeah and look who the leader of America is in today's world and the RFL and the match officials department have plenty of history with regards of treatment to staff with incidents and rumours of bullying and jobs for the boys, we've seems number of refs quit lately with that pointed towards the reason so we're hardly dealing with a whiter than white department even if you personally would never treat someone that way doesn't mean others don't.

Absolutely spot on - couldn't have said it better, so I won't try.

Your post explains and highlights your prejudice better than I ever could.

You chose to give the thread the title, 'Positive Discrimination'. The very concept of positive discrimination is that it favours members of groups that are perceived to be discriminated against. So, unless Child's belongs to some other discriminated against group (that only you know about), why do you suspect positive discrimination??

Of course it does - so, any comments on the points around my perception of inconsistency that I actually raised?


Not sure what your point is - I've stated that I believe he appears to get preferential treatment - what I haven't done in any way shape or form is state that his sexuality impacts in anyway his ability to do the job...

No but you have pointed to him getting preferential treatment because of his sexuality.

My comments would be that Child's inconsistency has nothing to do with his sexuslity.

Your perception of it however...