my mate always said that we only signed colin whitfield to stop robin from reffing us

A few years ago I sat behind Holdsworth at one of our academy games at Orrell on a Saturday afternoon. The academy game was against Leeds and he was the referee assessor for the game. At half time he was quite happy to chat. Leeds had lost to Catalan on the Friday night on Sky. It was a famous victory for Catalan and a real blow to Leeds. When I brought up the subject of the game he said he was made up with the Leeds defeat and had loved the game. He said that everyone states that he is from Kippax but he is actually from Bramley. We all know Bramley is a district of Leeds and Holdsworth said that everyone from Bramley hates Leeds and he was no different. It was quite funny as I said he had better speak a bit quieter as the unplaying members of the Leeds academy squad were sat about two rows behind us and could possibly overhear his comments, but he didn't seem overly concerned. It was an amusing and enjoyable conversation.

Was he the guy who reffed the 91 WCC?

No that ref was Saballyes or summat like that. I’m sure Rascagneres reffed the Aussie test matches in 1982

John Holdsworth was a great and fair Referee and it was always a pleasure to watch him in charge of a game.

I dont mind Thaler, but Hicks is a pedant.

I always thought Steve Presley to be fair and unbiased. (cue Elvis cracks

)

Karl Kirkpatrick and Russell Smith for me (at least until the Terry O'Connor swan-dive-and-knock-on-over-the-line against Saints that he gave, after which Smith went to the screen for EVERY single try).

Worst HAD to be Alibert for me. I had the distinct displeasure of listening to Ref's comms at the games and every single Alibert game, he was being coached from the sidelines.
Just utter ineptitude.

I used to like John holdsworth especially when skerret was up against sonny Nichol
Remember the cc cup replay at Knowsley road in which kelvin and sonny started scrapping just after kickoff
Holdsworth went to skerret and yelled you are off and held up the wrong card.he had meant to use red but instead pulled out and held up a yellow so kelvin only got ten minutes And best about it was he had to go with it as it was live on bbc due to England football being abandoned on the same night
Was an enjoyable night with a good result against the rabble from Merseyside

yeah that was the trouble in Ireland wasnt it?, I remember just getting in from training at night and seeing the news but watching wigan so winner

I've been watching rugby since I was 8 (so 98) and I can't remember a single ref I thought was good. The vast majority come over like arrogant self-important people, to be honest. Maybe Ian Smith was alright.