Interesting to see in the post game interviews yesterday that Royce Simmons is going to be having words with Stuart Cummings over the refereeing in SL. He quoted a statistic that Saints have received only 3 penalties for offside during the entire season and that the norm for other clubs is 15-18. Utterly bizarre stat given the relative strength of Saints pack and team in general and how they base their game around speed at the play the ball.

Another matter he'll no doubt bring up is Ian Smith being allowed anywhere near a Saints game again. I really don't know what his problem with Saints is, but it needs to be stopped.

In other news I see the RFL have promised to look at the scheduling of the international origin game after complaints from some clubs. One wonders which clubs that could have been

James Childs seems to have a unique ability to bring people together. Whatever the result, whether a team wins or loses, or its a draw, both clubs are always upset with James Childs.

Clubs have a squad of players,they are not limited to 17.As usual,coaches just looking for excuses.Rugby Union and cricket,play league games on the same day as Internationals

The Origin game should be a 3 game series played on the Wednesday evening when the State of Origin is played.

As for officiating it is at an all time low in standards currently even though it is now a full time job for most of them. I generally have a bit of sympathy for them because it is such a difficult job however when there are such contrasts in performances even from the same official, game to game it has to be worrying for the RFL.

The RLFans resident officials will be all over this thread soon though!

Inconsistencty of application is my greatest bugbear. Ganson has no latitiude about slowing down the PTB, Thaler the opposite. Childs picks up on eaverything, Silverwood lets it go.

At least they're consistent with their individual approach

Andy you missed out Alibert, who can't be consistent as even he doesn't know what calls he's giving.

I'm not sure we need to align it with the SOO in Australia, but I would agree with it being a 3 game series. I might be on my own, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Exiles game. There is so much they could do with it.

Only 3 penalties all year for offside, surely that can't be right?

Think you got 2 against us (although that might for been not square)

Childs will get all the attention on his performance yesterday (quite rightly) but i though he was assisted by the worst set of touch judges i have ever seen. There was a forward pass in the first half on Saints own line, it was "miles forward" as some would say, yet the touch judge on the near side where the PTB was, was standing with the defending team.

The Wilkin ball steal was laughable (even Wilkin couldn't hide it), the entire crowd saw it, yet the same touch judge couldn't see it from 2m from his nose.

Obviously Saints got a few calls against them as well but i thought the TJ's were awful yesterday.

My thoughts entirely, but he did say it.

yes yes yes lets please make it 3 games on a wednesday night we have to find a way to beat the Aussies this maybe our best shot

How many times have Saints been penalised for it? Should be almost every play the ball.

Why? 4.98095703125:5