Does anyone know whether there are any newbies in the referee numbers for next year or we going to be lumbered with the usual suspects who either can't count or are too busy counting the contents of their brown envelopes (or are just naturally incompetent)?

Surely the RFL realise that the paying public arn't very happy with the quality of referees generally. Now's the time to fast-track ex players into this side of the game. There has never been a fair representation of ex players as refs, I'm thinking of lads like Keith Senior and the players who'll finish in the next year or so, Adie Gardner, Shaun Briscoe etc. Respected ex players who can keep up with play and know the game inside out.
Just an idea,

If you pay peanuts what do you get?

Have you thought why respected ex players don't fancy it?

You must admit that the thought of a retired Long, Briers or Bailey reffing is an entertaining one though. It would certainly add flavour.

The former players idea is a good one as they probably would have a greater understanding of the how the game is played.

However, using Keith Senior as an example. Leeds V Wigan, 25,000 at the DW, play off semi final, he awards Leeds a try on a 50/50 call. Cue all hell breaking loose. The outcry would be greater than any abuse Ganson, Silverwood etc suffer on a weekly basis.

as apposed to say Ganson doing it against stains say...... however having lesser high profile players who have had there playing career cut short through injury, provided they could still keep up with the game, would be worth fast tracking imo.

How many ex players are now reffing? I can only think of one, most ex players either drop into the amateur game by playing or coaching.

Sinfield, Briers don't need fast tracking though

Fans are way overstating any problem with referees. Overall, ref’s are as good as they have ever been. The game is a million miles more technical than it has ever been & now every pro game is videoed & Sky games scrutinised for hysteria rankings it is obvious we are going to pick up on mistakes or contentious decisions that previously went unnoticed by most. Not that I am suggesting we should ever rest on our laurels.
Most ref’s, as in virtually all sports, are amateurs who loved the game sufficiently to stand in the middle of a pitch at Upton on a freezing winter’s day getting abused & threatened from knuckle dragging Neanderthals for a few quid & spending most of the day away from their families. Those who stick it out might be lucky to progress to the safety of operating behind a fence & have the luxury of assistants on the touch. Do you expect top SL players to go through that initiation or be fast tracked to the GF? No other team sport I can think of has an array of former top players as officials. Cricket used to, but that will stop now.
I don’t watch a great deal of other sports, but I used to watch football & still catch highlights & listen to a lot of radio reports. Almost without fail now, after every game the management, usually of the beaten side, & commentators are scrutinising & berating any contentious decision. I read in the paper this morning a letter from some muppet bleating that officials have never been so poor in football. This is the sport with billions of quid, where ref’s a paid handsomely & coached & trained to the peak of their powers. But still in the dissatisfied society of a material world it’s a joke & a disgrace.

There is no chance of our Keef being appointed as a Ref.
Within hours of him getting his brand new shiny whistle it would be up on Ebay.

Bringing in ex players would open up a right can of worms for allegations of bias. Its bad enough as it is. Just look at last year and Thalers blatent favourtism towards Leeds throughout the playoffs. Would certainly make the forums a fiery place though.

I have a couple of friends that reffed in the amateurs and were held in high regard and seemed to be on their way to the pro reffing ranks only to have others that were completely inept promoted to referee in these leagues. The general concensus like any walk of life, to get ahead its who you know, not what you know which might explain the complete set of wasters we currently have blowing the whistle at our games. The best refs dont neccesarily get the gig.

I have never seen an amateur ref, apart from once when Fred Lindop reffed a final we were in, come anywhere near the quality of a pro ref.

Are you missing the irony of your own Sig in this thread?

I'd rather he'd stick it up his own

Tony martin and brandon robinson ref in pennine league, nathan mcavoy is on sl disciplinary pannel.

Wilf george refs pennine league as well.