Bursurely isn't the worst aspect that the PLAYERS are bending/breaking the rules CONSISTANTLY?

There is your consitance, hard though it is to admit, and who is at fault there?

The refs.
These are full time players you would expect them to play right up to the rules, do you really expect a player to roll away from the tackle quicker than he can get away with?
The problem is still with the refs, if there was a consistent line on play-the-balls and tackles then players and coaches would coach to those rules and interpretations, but the rules & interpretations constantly change from season to season, ref to ref and from game to game.

It is almost impossible to coach a team to consistently abide by the rules (ie not be penalised) and be competitive at the same time.

players, in every sport, will push the ref to see what they can get away with.its upto the ref to draw the line.
i reffed at pro level football and that is no different.

So people condone players bending the rules continuously but bag match officials for catching/missing the misdemeanours!

I really do find that strange.

because its the referees job to referee the game, and catch the rule breaking

if the players came on the pitch and started acting out the complete works of shakespeare instead of playing RL then they would be 'bagged' by everyone, because they werent doing their job.

When referees dont catch rule breaking they are failling to do the only job they are employed to do, and when they are doing it consistently to a poor standard then they will be criticised

Who's STANDARD!!!!???????????????????????

well im giving my opinion so mine.

I dont think they are good enough. I dont think they are improving enough.

I can always get you on a course so that you can show us all just how good your standards are.

An honest answer at least.

The trouble is you know that someone else will think differently.

Just look at the discussions on penalty tries etc, so the only "true" answer is to say "That person is where the buck stops" which of course takes us back to the beginning

My guess is that his or my standards wouldn't be as high, but then again neither of us are taking home a very comfortable full-time wage or have all week to work on our standards. The argument isn't who the better official is out of me, Smokey or Steve Ganson, it's what progress have standards of officiating made under the current regime?