Ganson!

[gab0512]

The problem lies with the human being.

Players are full time professionals now, and they make mistakes during a game all the time. I don't think the RFL can afford to pay ref's a full time wage, plus the pension costs etc on top. As this is an expensive leap to make, we must weigh up the benefits of doing this.

Why don't we review what the video ref can ajudicate on? Not saying that's a perfect solution but may be worth looking at. Why can't ref's go into a training camp, say mid season, and review how it has gone so far. Hopefully this won't interfere too much with their full time jobs.

We need a realistic workable solution. Feedback forms - video ref review - training camps and other solutions everybody could offer, maybe a better way to go than paying for full time ref's making the same or similar mistakes. :eusa16:

[GeoffN]

I don't expect referees to be perfect; what I do expect is that their mistakes balance out for both teams.
That was not the case with either Klein or Ganson, and that's not just the biased fan's viewpoint - I can point to many specific examples in both games (most have been mentioned already)
Few, if any, of Ganson's decisions, were objected to by the Bradford fans; even when (for most of the game!) they looked like losing, they were blaming their players, not the ref.
I like the idea of a fans' "ref report" - of course the winning side would be less critical but they would balance out over time. Even had we won on Friday, I and most others would still have given Ganson a pretty low rating!
Increasing the scope of the video ref might work, but at the expense of the tempo of the game. In the NFL they have "coaches challenges", whereby a maximum of two decisions per half can be challenged by either team, with a penalty (in the NFL's case, losing a time-out; perhaps in RL losing one substitution move?) for a 'failed' challenge.
On balance, I tend to prefer a fair result with a 'stop/start' game, over a flowing but mistake-ridden one.

[gab0512]

I like the idea of the coaches being able to challenge one decision per halve/game. Would need to be looked at though in context of how it can be used. I would think tactics could definitely influence the outcome of a game if used correctly e.g. if a team was attacking the line in the last minutes of a game, and the defense was penalised for an offside - would the defending coach challenge the penalty just to give his team time to reorganise and thus save themselves from losing?

Video ref isn't ideal as I said - I thought Colborn had put the guy in touch at Wakefield anyway

The excuse that these mistakes even themselves up over the season just doesn't cut it with me. We should be looking to get as near perfect a performance each game not inconsistency over a season.

I honestly don't know what the answer is, but there are quite a few ideas that could be tried. If only the powers that be were not as deaf as the refs are blind :eusa4:

[Fraggle]

GeoffN posted:
I like the idea of a fans' "ref report" - of course the winning side would be less critical but they would balance out over time. Even had we won on Friday, I and most others would still have given Ganson a pretty low rating!

I'm not convinced anyone could be neutral enough to comment objectively on a game involving their team. How about have fans of teams not involved in the games (and not involved in the following week's game against either club) to review the ref's performance, say having a Warrington fan review the Wigan vs Bradford match?

[proud_pie_eater]

The general feeling is that Ashley Klein is a bad ref, one of only two full time referees! What does that say to you? If he is working full time and is still really really bad how can paying them all more money to referee be good for the sport?

[the grinch]

i understand how you all feel but this is what you are trying to do "teach common sense" it can't be done! if you set up a robot to make decisions to the letter of law the game will constantly be stopped and re-started.you dont want to be awarded a scrum when you have just broken the line and are heading for a try. there is no easy answer to this.maybe one day there will be a common sense exam to take but until then keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.

[mrs_carney]

i admit it must not be easy keeping track of everything in a game but some of the calls from refs lately have been awful not only for wigan and for once i dont blame millward for whinging about it, fielden deliberately touched rads and then jumped back on friday, he could have at least gone to the screen to find out how to restart the game or one of his officials i mean there are probably enough there.

[gab0512]

mrs_carney posted:
i admit it must not be easy keeping track of everything in a game but some of the calls from refs lately have been awful not only for wigan and for once i dont blame millward for whinging about it, fielden deliberately touched rads and then jumped back on friday, he could have at least gone to the screen to find out how to restart the game or one of his officials i mean there are probably enough there.

I think that's were some sympathy lies with the man in the middle. There are 2 behind the try lines, 1 either side of the pitch and one in the stands. There seems to be very little interaction lately between all 6 of them, unless the ref asks for it. Cummings should be getting them all involved in the game and making decisions. They don't necessarily have to stop the game if any have seen something that needs the attention of the ref, as they are all have the electronic walkie talkie things.

In our business we strive to make people accountable for their role, and to take responsibility for themselves, rather than wait for a Manager. Maybe this should be brought in to the officials role, and we can cut down on some of the more obvious errors :sarc:

[GeoffN]

But Ganson wasn't even looking at the tackle, he'd turned his back to the play. Players are taught to run backwards when getting back 10, is it that hard for ref's to do the same?

[gab0512]

Not Really Geoff but isn't that what the linesmen/goal judges and geezer in the stand can help on!