For the past two years Salford have had less ball than anyone in Superleague so it's a key area that needs improving. Other than ball retention it is down to giving away too many penalties and obviously there is a lot more to it than just telling the players not to infringe. Fatigue could be one factor but I believe lack of preperation is the other.

It would appear nobody at the club studies in detail the referees and their interpretations and I think it needs addressing. The players could then be given pre match report/instructions on the areas the ref is currently stict or tolerant on. Perhaps the coaching staff should make the referee aware prior to the game that they have been studying his recent performances and they have worked with the players to minimise penalties to his interpretation of the rules. Further to this they could study videos of their opponents and make the ref aware of any concerns they have about the opposition in relation to holding down too long, forward passes, deliberate obstructions and offsides etc.

The club could also build a comprehensive database for each ref with detailed information such as:

1.What type of penalties do they award most?
2.How often do they give back to back penalties?
3.When in a game do they award the most pens? First 10 mins, last 10 mins?
4.Identify if there is any patten to their refereeing?
5.On what number tackle do they award most penalties?
6.What area of the field do they award most pens?
7.Does the team leading or trailing in a match get more penalties?
8.Has there been any recent shift in what the ref awards pens for most?

etc,etc

we have done this in the past, and it worked quite well, I think reffing errors were identified by the ref but he was confused as to which side was Salford, playing in away kit at Sheffield, i think it did prove a point that we were victims at the time. but times have move on don't forget we have sky 3 times so far next season, so with the video ref we should get the decs right, unless we play Hull where even the video ref was against us.

I have to say the two things that make our game unatractive to a lot of fans and absolutely get my goat are (a) the forward pass rule. FFS it should go back or let them throw it anywhere. (b)The ruck area rules. You have just been victim of just what every club from every league has to put up with week in week out. Both my gripes are the most ambiguous set of rules in any sport and to leave the officials to sort them out and get the flack after is a joke. Brought in to sold called speed up th game and make it more attractive ( an excuse to follow the aussies) they want binning. Simplfy them and it would make the game alot better. People left the kick and clap brigade in droves when they made their rules to finicky because it ruined the specticle now they have adjusted and they have got a massive following again.

I like the idea that is set to be used in the "nines" competition. If the acting halfback gets tackled in possession of the ball, then it's a handover.

This should mean that we get better ball movement and hookers/acting halves who can actually pass the ball instead of the head down and scoot which is so prevalent now.

I would like to see there only being one marker at the play the ball and as soon as the ref has tracked back ten or nearly ten a simple "release" to play the ball. It's a bloody joke all the wrestling. When the ball carriers forearm has touched the ground the tackle is complete. But in todays game with the speed it is played I really think a second ref should be in there.

we haven't enough refs