One of the more unpleasant things I've noticed coming into the game this season, is an increasing amount of on and off-field abuse of referees in particular, and officials in general.

I don't think anyone on here would claim refs are perfect, or even competent in some cases, but to be honest they have to simultaneously control many-facets of a very fast sport; they make mistakes, but so do people in all walks of life, and players and coaches probably make more game-changing mistakes than refs.

,Recent instances of Tomkins, Hock and Peacock being sent-off or sin-binned show it is undoubtedly on the increase. Perhaps more alarming is that McDermott and Betts defended the players, and excused the abuse as being part of the game, which it patently is not. Shaun Wane to his eternal credit, said that if Tomkiins had abused an official he deserved the punishment.

As someone who has held RL players up, quite rightly, to my football-loving colleagues as a bastion of decency and respect I find the development quite alarming, and I hope refs and the RL come down on it severely, to players and coaches alike.

Glad it isn't just me who thinks it has increased this year. I'm not sure why really, maybe because there has been a few incidents of coaches criticising refs. What annoys me is that I have found the people worst for it usually don't have a clue what they are hyperventilating about and just end up embarrassing themselves. I am pretty sure at the Huddersfield game I heard someone shout "free kick ref". Deary me! Offside in particular is something that many people don't understand but love to screech.

My theory is that when people recognise the referee they particularly go for it with the abuse. Richard Silverwood seems to cop the most abuse this year, particularly on Easter Monday. I had no idea why that day. I think it is because he has taken the big games recently, so people have a name to shout. If Chris Leatherbarrow refereed the same game in the exact same style he would get half the abuse, because people wouldn't know the name to shout.

As you pointed out players make far more mistakes per game, and I think most of the complaints come from a lack of understanding from some quarters. There is talk of Steve Ganson getting a blog/column of some kind, hopefully this will help to explain things and hush the boring and petulant abuse.

Refs need to maintain or increase the sending offs for it though. Maybe then some players will go ally stop.
Tomkins is at it in every match. Does he think that he has to take over James Graham after he left 18months ago?

How often do we see the penalty advanced 10 metres nowadays?

Any sign of dissent should result in the ball being moved 10 metres, or the penalty overturned if its the team with the penalty who complain. The player concerned should also receive an initial warning which would be followed by a yellow card, and then a red if the culprit is too dim to realise what he's doing.

Coaches and players should be hit with significant fines, and if necessary bans, for unnecessary comments after the game. The club, as their employers, should be hit with significant fines too.

If players persist in costing their team territory, points or numbers on the field then I'm sure the coach will do their utmost to stop them. If coaches and players persist in costing their club money, then I'm sure the directors at those clubs will do their utmost to stop them.

This is a problem that has been creeping into the game over the past few years. It needs strong firm action now before it becomes accepted as the 'norm'.

I was thinking that the other day actually. I seem to remember seeing Alibert do it at some point this year, but that is about it!

The worst in the league for doing it are Wellens and Wilkin.

Excellent post

The refs should start abusing players, see how they like it.

player knocks on, ref blows for a scrum and gets in the players face going do you need your eyes testing? forgot your guide dog mate? do us a favour and retire, you're the worst in the league......

Referees don't help their own cause by calling players by their first names...There should always be a degree of seperateness and aloofness between officials and players.