Ben Thaler

We had him there two years ago hope for better this time round

Will he be on the team bus on the way to the airport?

Hope he shows sense with letting water carriers on it's supposed to be 37 degrees in france. To be honest moving kick off to 4 instead of later is stupid.

I am still baffled by the decision to allow referees to control games involving the team from the place where they live/ originate/ support, etc.
There is no point in creating areas of doubt in peoples mind, hang on, this is Rugby league.
Nothing to see here.

Ben Thaler has emerged as this season's best SL ref in my view - he has a good relationship with the players on the field and doesn't seem to feel the need to impose himself on the game like some of his colleagues.

But sometimes the ruck area becomes a right mess and then he plucks a decision out of nowhere for an infringement he's been letting go the rest of the match. But certainly better than constantly whistling

I think he speaks to the players a lot and tells them what he wants to see improve; if they don't improve it, he then penalises them.

I'm not saying he's perfect, but he's been really good this season.