The quality of referees will not improve if the RFL continue to develop young lads who choose to referee because they have little ability to play the game or probably any other sport.
These lads can run and become fit but they do not have the inate ability to understand the game: how it is played and what it is like to play - surely vital ingedients for successful referees
If you have played the game, and maybe a lot of us have, we have all been in games where we have been completely out of our depth because of a high quality opposition. They - the opposition - have played the game at an intensity that could not be matched, speed that seemed unbelievable and decision making that you could only dream about. I firmly believe that this is what it must be sometimes like for our Roby/Hicks/Childs. Their sensory system/coordination/decision making cannot absorb the speed of everything happening around them. They become lost, don't see the full picture, clearly become confused, go into a mode that says 'I must blow my whistle - I am the ref.'
The players on the pitch are in a completely different class. Most of us surely appreciate that if we were asked to play on a Sunday afternoon for the Trin the pace and speed of the game would be phenomenol and we would look like absolute muppets
Add to this the linesmen who are again all of the same ilk and the whole situation gets worse. I've said it before - these are the lads in the school PE lessons that when they got the ball they threw it up in the air and ran off in the wrong direction.
Solution - of course ex players, especially those in their twenties, who suffer career ending injuries would be fine material. And possibly picking up some of these young lads who don't quite make it through the club academies.
Pay them well - but only if they perform well.

Roby on Sunday was a joke. Maybe Ganson thought the same. Mr Agar as well. Scruton jumping up in the air was an indication. Poor Ali standing over Lomax looking rather puzzled - and the list goes on. But this is not a one off - this is nearly always the case when one of these boffins ref any of the super league games.

PS Took me a long time to write this - i expect similar length texts in response. Oh and no sour grapes either

Come on - cut me some slack. No reply cos its late and everbody is sleepy and drinking their warm milk ?? Ah well tomorrow is always another day.

I'll agree with you regarding Roby & Child's but I think Hicks is an OK ref. None of em are any worse than the fat buffoon Ganson who's now restricted to making a mess of video refs decisions!

I thankyou Cecil B. I am retiring for the evening - as should the refs in question - and look forward to the varied and interesting replies that this thread will undoubtedly provide during the course of tomorrow (don't let me down FIL).

Actually - have you ever noticed that Hicks sometimes runs after the play with his head down just trying his hardest to keep up with the players. Quite amusing - you must look out for it.

quite a good read furgus, I would say its time to bring in the double ref if they cant keep up, tired now so off to bed my self

Heavens above have double the clowns in charge of the game

Some of us do have to work nights you know, and we aren't all able to be full-time key-board warriors.. ..anyhow, I'm here now and will try not to let you down...

You make a very valid point Fergus and we all know that it is the same culprits week in, week out, and that they are simply not SL grade referees, so it makes you wonder just what competition there is for places in the refereeing department - I am guessing NONE.
This is something that the RFL need to address to improve the integrity of the game, but we all know that this simply won't happen

Fergus good post.

I agree what you say in most ways. However in soccer which is far more high profile the same 'type' of non athletes manage to ref their game. Reason being rules much simpler and less decisions that need interpretation of judgement.
We need to simplify the game and get back to basics.

As far as ex players....Jamie Bloem and by all accounts not that good.

I'd agree that there should be a pathway for players to get into reffing. They know what to look out for and know when to let play flow. They have a feel for the game. If paid correctly I'm sure 2-3 could be introduced each year, allowing the 2 ref system in a few years time.

P Bentham the ref on Sunday.

Bentham next for us.

We should start a petition about referee quallity.

I blame the RFL.