Conceded: Wigan 1 Catalans 5

Not a hard game to referee but 1 penalty conceded has never been heard of in recent years.

Having said that the Hull v Quins penalty count was 2-5.

I think they are really trying to cut down on the number of penalties this year. This time last year we had 25+ penalties in almost every game. Less penalties and more restraint from the refs make for a better game imo.

Thaler isn't big into penalties and I like him for that.

He tends to let the game flow which is great but he has had his run in's with some of the games coaches over the past few years.

I was glad to see that that the human embodiment of the word 'inconsistency' - Richard Silverwood - got criticised by the commentators last night.

Of course, they didn't criticise him for the 30-odd penalties he gave against Wigan in the first half at Saints a few years ago and the near clean-sheet he kept in the second (when Saints had the game won). But any exposure of that pillock is fine by me.

Come on Let it go, like you said a few years ago! They probably didn't mention it because they dont remember. Also I'm pretty sure it wasn't 30 odd penalties.

I'll let it go when he's no longer a referee. There's the other not insignificant matter of him "not hearing the hooter" last year, allowing play on and Hull KR to subsequently score a vital and ultimately match-winning try.

I know the game your referring to but 30 odd? I don't think so. 30 odd pens in one half would be impossible to achieve. In fact you'd struggle to do that in a whole match.

If anyone can do it, Dick Silverwood can.

Thanks, B.

I'm sure I must be thinking of another one.

Does anyone not think that Rugby League may have tok a few steps back with last nights game, as now all the teams wil be staying on the man until the referee says move therefore slowing the game down and thus taking it back to a few years ago

Definetly. They need to nip that in the bud straight away because it was nauseating!

I have to admit that I looked at that and wondered how long it will take Madge to drill our boys into doing exactly the same.

IMO, there is nothing wrong with "playing to the ref".

He rightly penalised Melbourne a few times in the first half for pushing it too far, but as soon as they started to release the instant he called either "Move" or "Release", the defence got on top and the Rhinos were stifled.

I enjoy a good defensive tussle, and wouldn't mind ud playing like that against the likes of Leeds/Saints/Warrington, and leave the free-flowing stuff for either when the opposition tires from our relentless pressure, or the teams with less defensive clout (like last Friday).

Last nights game was done under international rules wasn't it which are slightly different than SL ones. I know controlled restarts are one difference but i think the other is the players can wait until the ref tells them to move.

But will the slowing of the game mean that players will have to be cleverer and ultimately more skilful to break a defence down. In the 80's the play of the ball was painfully slow but the skill of players like Gregory, Hanley, Edwards, Woods, Myler etc seemed to be better than that of their modern equivalents.