Love Rugby League's "5 things this week" article described Ben Thaler as the in form ref in SL.

Just wondering what people think about this really.

From my point of view he has been the best ref this year, not singularly because he is brilliant at spotting everything etc etc (they all make mistakes) but more to how he lets a game flow, and how he communicates with the players. When I see the ref appointments for the games on Sky I am always happy to see him in charge, because generally the game will run smoothly, and he has good banter at times.

I know Leeds fans wont be his number one fans at the moment, and I could be accused of just liking him for being in charge of a game we won, but I truly think he helps the games flow better, and I would think that if we had lost on Saturday.

So, thoughts, and if you dont agree who would you say is better and why?

They all seem to screw up regularly, don't know why as they have two linesmen and in goal judges. The best are the ones who don't want to be the centre of the attraction. I'm not sure who is best, the worst for me has got to be Hicks.

Thaler definitely. He tends to blend into the background - which is what you want from a ref. James Child is one notorious ref who likes to make himself the centre of attention.

Matthew Thomason has impressed in games I've seen him ref. BTW, what has happened to Thierry 'seven-tackles' Alibert? Sacked?

I was impressed with Thomason too. Granted London/Catalans isn't the same as being the ref for Leeds/Wigan or a Hull derby but still looked good.

Uncle Albert has gone back to France and is now in charge of their match officials

Who is the least bald man in the comb-fighting contest?

I like Chris Leatherbarrow and can see him doing well in the years to come. Why has George Stokes fallen out of favour lately?

Referees will always get things wrong, in any sport. There's two of em in Australia yet they have some absolute howlers. For me I like to see two things. Firstly the ref blend in so he is just part of the background and not centre of attention, secondly I think it's great to see a referee actually enjoying the job, something which seems a rarity these days.

Silverwood or Thaler for mine, though I must say I do miss Ganson.

Leatherbarrow & Thomason. They tend to keep out of the way and not make the game all about them and not seen either of them have a properly bad game.

Easy!
ALL the "experts" who post on these forums, especially when their team have been beaten!

I'd agree with Thaler for the same reasons others suggest ie. he tends to let the game flow.

James Childs has a bit of a rep for blowing up too often but he's reffed Cas 2 of our last 3 games and seems to have improved a lot. Whether he's made a conscious decision to try and not get so involved or whether Cas have become more disciplined only time will tell.

TBF to him Child has actually improved from around 2-3 years ago. Wasn't it the year when Magic weekend opened the season (2011) that he gave about 87 penalties in a Cas/Wakey game. He does still have this annoying habit of deciding he's going to ping the same team for 10 mins solid for nothing reasons, then switching it to the other team.

I don't know, but Ian Smith is the King of the Rotating Finger on the VR.

I don't get to watch games on TV very often (bad experience with Sky) but I was impressed by the way on Saturday that you could hear the ref, more often than not, making the correct call then asking the video ref to check it. What really annoyed me was that you could hear the ref, more often than not, making the correct call then asking the video ref to check it. Grow a spine and make a decision.

I dread to think!!!