Hicks. Thaler video ref. www.rugby-league.com/the_rfl/ref ... pointments

Hicks. Thaler video ref. www.rugby-league.com/the_rfl/ref ... pointments

Has Thaler upset the powers-that-be (again)?

Well I rarely comment on refs. It's an incredibly difficult job that they do and we'd be screwed without them but in Hicks' case I'll make an exception. If the powers that be think he's the best referee in the country I'll give up. Seriously, I'd take anyone before this guy. Human beings make mistakes and I accept that but I just don't like his style of refereeing. Far too pedantic, incapable of letting a game flow and IMO doesn't command the respect of the players.

Should be fun with these two , and the the two touches, what time is the last tram midnight ? We all know we are going to be talking about this lot whatever the result.
What's happened to all the part timers that got a look in a couple of months ago and showed the full timers how to do the job, they have been binned for these play offs, suppose Ganson has to justify the full time wages.

Sorry for both teams , Hicks is a joke and not far behind Child and Cobb as the worst there is , to be fair to Child he is not bad as a touch judge . In years gone by we complain about refs but this is about the worst era ever .

+1

I wonder if sometimes the RFL just do things for a bit of a laugh.

given the options I'd rather it was this way round than with Thaler on the park & Hicks in the caravan.

Clint Sharad IMO is one of the worst touch judges in the comp as well.

Can't agree with that.

I have to drag this thread back since I panned Hicks' appointment only for him to give a pretty good account of himself. His only real howler was in awarding us a penalty when IMO Lockers lost the ball. The question I want to pose is this - would anyone agree that Hicks is not alone in that he seems to officiate the big games in a totally different way to run of the mill league fixtures?

Think the call is correct tbh,

Clarke hands actually pushes it out.

I think awarding Atkins a "try" was a shocker. Given what we saw on the replay how did he come to the conclusion that it should be a try? I'm just glad there was a big enough gap between all the bodies to spot the knock on or else that would have been two finals in a row we'd have been robbed in.

Good game overall though.

Agree that giving the Atkins try was a howler but in fairness it was his only one. I couldn't understand him going up as a try because the evidence clearly proved he'd just guessed.

Thank god the cameras had a view of it or else it would have been given. Atkins is a clown as well for claiming it. It was about as classy as when a cricketer claims a catch he knows has bounced.

Re: Lockers penalty. Not sure this was for a ball steal. Watch it again, King was the wrong side of the play the ball and got involved in tackle....therefore offside.

I don't have a problem with Atkins doing that tbh, it's bad sportsmanship I suppose but he's obviously going to do everything he can to make sure his team wins and it nearly paid off. It's once again a problem with this try/no try bollox.

Hicks did have a good game but I thought our discipline in the second half was excellent so that certainly made his job easier.