Referee for Thursday

[josie andrews]

CHRIS KENDALL TO REFEREE BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE OPENER

Chris Kendall has been appointed as referee for Thursday night’s opening fixture of the Betfred Super League season between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves.

Kendall, who took charge of his first Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford last October, will be assisted by Ben Thaler as video referee.

The following night, Liam Moore will referee the televised Grand Final rematch between St Helens and Salford Red Devils, with James Child as the video referee – and Robert Hicks has been appointed for the non-televised match between Hull KR and Wakefield Trinity.

Scott Mikalauskas is heading to France for Saturday evening’s fixture between Catalans Dragons and Huddersfield Giants.

For Sunday’s double header at Emerald Headingley which completes the opening round, James Child will referee Toronto Wolfpack’s first Super League fixture against Castleford Tigers, with Chris Kendall as the video official; and Ben Thaler will referee Leeds Rhinos versus Hull FC, with Robert Hicks as the video official.

Appointments have also been confirmed for the opening round of Betfred Championship fixtures, Aaron Moore will take charge of Sunday’s fixture between Bradford Bulls and London Broncos at the Tetley’s Stadium – which will also stage Friday night’s Championship opener between Dewsbury Rams and Leigh Centurions, for which Cameron Worsley has been appointed referee.

Marcus Griffiths will referee Saturday evening’s match between Toulouse Olympique and York City Knights at the Stade Ernest Wallon – which is being streamed live on the RFL’s Our League App, with a 5pm kick-off UK time.

In Sunday’s other games, Tom Grant will referee the West Yorkshire derby between Batley Bulldogs and Featherstone Rovers; Billy Pearson has been appointed for Halifax versus Sheffield Eagles at the Shay; Jack Smith for Oldham’s return to the Championship against Widnes Vikings at Bower Fold; and Gareth Hewer for the fixture between last year’s Betfred League 1 champions, Whitehaven, and Swinton Lions.

There are four newcomers to the list of Select Group officials for 2020 – including James Vella, who has relocated from Australia for non-refereeing reasons, but arrives with an impressive pedigree of more than 250 appointments in six seasons including the NRL’s Holden Cup competition and various New South Wales Rugby League Open Age competitions such as the Ron Massey Cup. Also new to the Select Group are 19-year-olds Luke Bland, from the Leeds Refereeing Society, and Liam Rush, from the Dewsbury and Batley society.

They are joined by Neil Horton, a 42-year-old who is a member of the Wakefield Refereeing Society and has been officiating for four years after considerable previous experience in the game as a player and coach. He has already refereed all the major finals in the community game nationally, as well as refereeing the 2019 Academy Grand Final.

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/56 ... gue-opener

[Mickw]

What an appalling performance from Kendall,I don't know where to start after that, so I won't bother .The standard won't get better under ganson only worse.

[ancientnloyal]

He had a shocker!

[First Try Tickle]

Shouldn’t be reffing a big game after gifting Saints the grand final.

Tonight he was told to send Hill off, then thought ok I will now give Warrington everything. The way he let Austin influence him was pathetic.

[Great grandad Harry ball]

Not the first time on this forum that I've posted about Kendall.
Opinion has not changed.
Reminds me of a Premier League referee Stuart Atwell who was promoted far too quickly and suffered. He is now making his way back after about 5 years at a lower level.
Needs to go and learn the job properly, would suggest a few years at a far lower level than Super League. The players from both sides tonight were shaking their heads with utter disbelief at some of the decisions.
He isn't good enough, and is very arrogant. It took 12 minutes into the season for his first massive cockup that directly led to Warrington scoring from the next set. Watch the video.
But no doubt he will be refereeing next week, as the relevant authorities will pat each other on the back.
No need to say anything else.

[josie andrews]

Terrible refereeing display sadly!

What’s happened with this new rule that you have to actually place your foot on the ball? Wire players didn’t do it once!

First game of the new season & we are already talking more about the ref than the game!!

[moto748]

It was a terrible performance, and, as others have said, it wasn't a case of being biased; he was just poor, and failed to get a grip throughout. The p-t-b's were painfully slow,and there was no consistency in his decisions.

[fozzieskem]

Terrible refereeing display sadly!

What’s happened with this new rule that you have to actually place your foot on the ball? Wire players didn’t do it once!

First game of the new season & we are already talking more about the ref than the game!!

That rule seemed not to apply in Kendalls world and for balance Wigan just as bad,he was shocking tonight but he’s woeful most times I see him.

Was it a penalty try the one with Powell being banjacked?

[Wintergreen]

Very poor ref.

Some shockers last night.

[Firestarter]

It was a terrible performance, and, as others have said, it wasn't a case of being biased; he was just poor, and failed to get a grip throughout. The p-t-b's were painfully slow,and there was no consistency in his decisions.

Bang on