I agree The standard of refereeing is increasingly shocking. But I think you need to take off the tinfoil. Its plain old incompetence - no agenda, no corruption, just poor officiating. The majority of the men running the line daren't speak out (tv Tony being the exception of course) and the refs just aren't up to scratch. Partly this is down the fact we have few people wanting to become refs- who can blame them. Young kids of 15 getting shouted and sworn at when they are learning to officiate at U8 games- it's hardly going to encourage them to continue- The guy who was in charge of the ref training in yorkshire stepped down a couple of years ago cause he got sick of having to deal with abuse.
Partly it's down to the way the game has evolved- especially around the ruck- too much for the ref to watch so he can't see it all.- offside is rarely checked by the ref he's expecting the linesmen to do the job there-but they rarely do. The game is getting faster - are we expecting referees to keep up with professional athletes making an 80 yard break???
Aus have gone with two refs-I suspect the RFL would like to- we just don't have enough officials.

Many of the decent refs don't want to leave good jobs to do it full time-

there's nothing on our board and yours in more fun at the moment
nothing wrong with a healthy debate is there?

and i do happen to agree that the standards of officials has gone downhill, we have seen some shocking performances this season, not neccesarily game changing stuff but just poor calls and plain bad decision making.

"offside is rarely checked by the ref he's expecting the linesmen to do the job there-but they rarely do" err 1. they're called "touch judges" for a very good reason: they're not "linesmen/lineswomen/assistant referees". and 2. When did they start to police the off-side? Their duties: www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/o ... _officials i.e they don't. and we must not assume if a palyer is off-side, the ref will blow: "If the ball is played quickly, all players will not necessarily have time to retire the prescribed distance. They should be penalised only if they intentionally interfere with play – either actively or passively." and "The Referee should usually position himself ten metres behind and to one side of the point at which the ball is played as a guide to the team not in possession. If tackling is excessively keen or play is unnecessarily rough, the referee may forsake the ten metres position in order to be nearer the players involved in the tackle." nowt new there.

"offside is rarely checked by the ref he's expecting the linesmen to do the job there-but they rarely do" err 1. they're called "touch judges" for a very good reason: they're not "linesmen/lineswomen/assistant referees". and 2. When did they start to police the off-side? Their duties: www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/rules/o ... _officials i.e they don't. and we must not assume if a palyer is off-side, the ref will blow: "If the ball is played quickly, all players will not necessarily have time to retire the prescribed distance. They should be penalised only if they intentionally interfere with play – either actively or passively." and "The Referee should usually position himself ten metres behind and to one side of the point at which the ball is played as a guide to the team not in possession. If tackling is excessively keen or play is unnecessarily rough, the referee may forsake the ten metres position in order to be nearer the players involved in the tackle." nowt new there.

Oh HBR now you've killed the argument with facts!

Surely you're not suggesting that Ms jools and other fans should actually read and understand the rules?