Hasn't that been tried?

Indeed it has. Greg McCallum took over from Fred Lindop and was eventually replaced by Stuart Cummings.

rlAn interview with McCallum from February 2000rl

Exactly what I was meaning. Along with the interference in the ruck, I think the 2 things are largely influenced by reputation. At times it almost seems like the ref just bases it on whether or not he thinks one team is too good to drop the ball so it must be a penalty or not good enough to hold onto it so it was bound to be a knock on. Warrington are a great example; no matter who they are playing they always seem to come out on top in this area with replays showing little difference between the incidents. It helps them get a roll on with the weight of possession.

Absolutely right and as I think we've both said before it's the decisions that aren't given that have more influence IMO than those that are maybe given wrongly. Following on from your theme things like not square at marker seem to be given far more often against the lower teams yet there are numerous times when the better teams are in exactly the same position but it's not given. It's a mindset for some refs IMO. Lower teams get pulled for offside yet better teams have a fast line speed is another one. Refs influence games by not giving decisions as much as they do by giving them.

For those thinking this is all a deliberate plot, you'd better head over to the 9/11 conspiracy theorists site, you'd be in good company

I have no doubt that the vast majority of decisions refs make are correct, however it's the inconsistent way the rules are applied that is frustrating. For instance, you will see a ref ignoring offside for play after play only to blow up when he feels like it. Too often, refs give multiple penalties to one side in succession, starving one team of the ball and influencing the flow of the game and potentially the outcome. Need a major rethink on referees IMO

I once applied to be a ref and went to sit the exam. I sat down to do the test but was told I'd failed when they found out my IQ wasn't in single digits

It's accountability and transparency that's needed. Operating behind closed doors and walls of silence with referees and their leader never publicly having to answer criticism just makes them isolated. They become the enemy and everything they do is wrong. They're a poor bunch at the moment but they're not as bad as we sometimes make out. It would be good for them to be able to point out the , probably numerous , times when everyone thinks they've got it wrong but in fact they were right. It would be fantastic as well for them to admit they got it wrong which they inevitably will and on occasions prove how difficult it is by everyone failing to reach any concensus either way. They'd get more respect and and in the long term that might just get more people into refereeing which is absolutely crucial if standards are to improve.

Another one nailing the point about referees having a major influence on which team has the ball and where they have it.

I also went to take the test. The first question was, "In no more than 25 words, please explain the forward pass rule if you are (a) Leeds Rhino's or (b) Hull FC."

If Brent Webb's pass goes 4 yards forward and Danny Maguire's knocks on in the act of scoring a try, how offside were Hull FC?

Which Brent Webb keep-fit-video moves are acceptable whilst positioned between a Hull player kicking a penalty and the goalposts?

I'd dearly love to see the results of some of you sitting even the basic test that forms part of the coaching exam

In fact rlTry thisrl

It's an Aussie site but it's on The International Laws of the Gamerl]

I prefer to sit in my armchair making trite comments - it's much less effort.

Whilst I didn't think he had a good match I always feel sorry for someone who is, ultimately, doing his/her best (whether we think that's good enough or not) and they get the sort of reaction they get. I stand by one of my earlier comments where I reckoned a lot of his decisions would actually have been correct even though we thought they were horribly wrong.

Also, imagine if his children/parents/partner were there worrying when they saw him get injured and yet hearing the crowd cheer at it and then boo him off the field. Not nice...

Like the east stand at Poorhouse Lane going mental when Long was prone on the floor