The comments by McManus were written a couple of days after his club gave their worst performance of the season. The referee was chosen quite a few days before the match and, presumably notified to the officials of the 2 clubs involved. McManus obviously knew of the death threat incident so, my question is - why did he not raise the matter with the RFL when he 1st knew of Hicks appointment? It would then have been up to the RFL to either appoint a new referee, or carry on with Hicks.

Coaches of all clubs are guilty on one level or another. It doesn’t make it right. Imo it harms the game and grievances should be made privately with the RFL.

I didn't get that from your post but fair enough.

Isn't it an automatic $10k fine in the NRL if a coach has a go at the referee in post match interviews? Might work if coaches felt that any concerns they raised privately were dealt with promptly.

I’d be all for that.

The coaches just need a prepared response of something like ‘some go for you, some against. I’d prefer to focus on my own team’.

I have sympathy and believe we need to vastly improve refereeing standards starting with 2 refs but airing it in public doesn’t anyone least of all the sport any good.

The big problem is, as many have pointed out, we don't have enough decent ref's for one per round, never mind two.

And the RFL don't seem prepared to spend money on it, as the guy who was going to come over from the NRL fell through.

I would think, and hope that the ones we have would improve with a bit of back up on the field.

Money was not the major problem. Matt Cecchin, after resigning as one of the best referees in the NRL, was twice denied a visa to officiate in Super League and subsequently returned to the NRL.

Robert Hicks is Fridays referee for Wigan v Catalan it'll be interesting to see what sort of reception he gets?

I hope he gets a standing ovation and his own supportive chant.

And a positive review in the match day programme