LOL

You actually counted them, the word ‘sad’ was invented for occasions like this.

Gigot is Cats entire attacking force ???

Is he their entire defensive force too

that is the very definition of a one man team if true

The game would be cleaner all round if refs were tougher. They’d know they would t be able to get away with stuff so wouldn’t do it.

I was sad about it, I had to have a shot every time he said it.

I was playing Sky Super League Bingo with my Dad. I had Hicks’ “mate” and me Father had O’Connor’s “big big man” of which there were only four or five.

Oops. I just said “thanks mate” to the pizza delivery guy even though I had never met him before.

Sorry!

Impressive attendance of 10,284 for today's game including 2,000 from Hull.

From Russia with Love

You were right, it was.

You’re not laying down or officiating the laws of the game of pizza or road traffic to him though are you?

I’ve referee’d rugby league games. You don’t call the players “mate”.

It’s like when a teacher calls a pupil in his class “mate”, you just don’t do it.

Rugby union referees (who command far greater respect from players than rugby league refs do) are often heard saying “I’m not your mate” “I’m not your coach”. Especially the latter when players are asking about decisions or tactics of the opposition.

Rugby league refs coach teams through games and call the players mate or by their first name. I think that breeds too much familiarity and allows them to think they can get away with stuff so push the boundaries making our game worse for it.

I’m no fan of Union but they have it bang on. Players should be referred to by their shirt colour and number and should never be coached through games.

But that wasn't the problem though it was the defence that was atrocious, yesterday was yet another game were they missed 60+ tackles and hence another 50 points leakage drubbing.

I dont actively dislike Union. However their game is littered with numerous technical offences which occur in just about every ruck and the referee will, it sometimes appears, randomly decides if a penalty is awarded. There are many opportunities for this to happen, partly due to being in the wrong position when prone on the floor and the defender is unable to move out of the way. Consequently there were a couple if decades when the England RU team (and a fair few club sides) focused on gaining technical penalties to have a shot at goal. Hardly a riveting watch. Of course the RU marketing machine which runs 100% more efficiently than the RL one made a hero out of Jonny Wilkinson because he kicked goals.

RL does not have the financial clout of RU, so has to make its game more of a try scoring, entertaining event. If the referee chipping with with a few comments to help the game flow then thats fine.

I am not really sure when you thing the players are being coached. The referee is not telling them how to tackle or how to split a defensive line. More often than not he is saying " player X, you are offside" or " don't get involved" so the game flows and we don't end up in penalty fest.