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

Back on topic I agree with much of this https://www.totalrl.com/upfront-blame-c ... decisions/

Back on topic I agree with much of this https://www.totalrl.com/upfront-blame-c ... decisions/

Perhaps we should all use this controversy as a means of cutting our referees some slack.It is a fact that most of us are typically one eyed when we think decisions go against us .Usually it’s offside ,forward passes or high tackles that we feel have gone against our team but on average the referee is usually correct and we are wrong.
Brian Carney has given some support to Robert Hicks but he could help more by getting his Sky colleagues to spend less time harping on about refereeing decisions during the course of a game and do what they are paid to do which is to describe the action takIng place on the pitch.If they are not faffing on about a previous incident they are engaging in infantile topics that have nothing to do with the game being televised.There is no comparison between the current Sky presentation and how the NRL coverage is presented .Hemmings has gone and the sooner a couple of his mates follow him out the door the better it will be for Sky viewers and also our under pressure referees.

I see where you're coming from with this but I think it's more a case of you not understanding the nuance in language. There is far more going on behind the surface of EM's words than the literal translation. This is plain to see, as I've said previously, in his use of phrases like "publicity stunt", "pathetic spat" and "open sewer" for example.

I hope to God you don't take politician's words as literally as you seem to take your chairman's or you'll be living your life in a constant state of surprise! 350 million for the NHS anyone?

I see where you are coming from and in part you are right. However,

“This was amply consolidated, in the eyes of many, in reality when Hicks incomprehensibly did not go to the video referee for Morgan Knowles’ clear and legitimate opening try and followed it up shortly with other highly questionable decisions.”

If that’s not a dig at the ref I don’t know what is.