Referee for Friday

[cpwigan]

I didn't see any make up calls in the first half Mark. I actually think Hicks contributed to the game by keeping is faster than normal SL games.

[markill]

I didn't see any make up calls in the first half Mark. I actually think Hicks contributed to the game by keeping is faster than normal SL games.

The one that first struck me was the knock on on TT when there were hands all over the ball. Then he started letting Wire, in particular Chris Hill, lie on a lot but started to penalise us for the exact same thing. The game was in general faster, which you're right, made it more enjoyable to watch, but there were spells either side of half time where refereeing in my opinion was weak. The red card got him back on track.

[southernpie]

I think Smith was just criticising the ref in general. He said both sides got some harsh calls.

Hicks awarding penalties was very inconsistent. When players are willing to push for every split second advantage that becomes a problem for them to work out when they'll be penalised and when they won't. It's weak refereeing. The harsh sin bin followed by make up calls the other way is weak refereeing too. The bit he wasn't weak on was the sending off, that was the right call. Can't catch a guy in the neck with an elbow regardless of whether he was injured or not as a result.

LOL so you are now agreeing with me that he is rubbish.
This is why I hate seeing his name up for our matches, something always goes pear shaped. I must admit though Martin and Sharrad for once didn't stand out to me in getting any decisions wrong (unless it was one of them called the forward pass for Tierney's no try)

[cpwigan]

It was forward and IMO the match officials had great games. If the referee had not give a try for the later Tierney one it would have been disallowed.

[markill]

LOL so you are now agreeing with me that he is rubbish.

Haha. Well I thought he was weak for a portion of this game. Basically from the first card to the second one. But I don't think he's rubbish. Until he got injured at our Magic game he was the best ref this year in my opinion.

[cpwigan]

IMO Hick showed the way for SL. 99% of the time POTBS are slow/tedious and messy. Coaches are aty fault. Ironically Wane complains when it goes against us when we lose that the game is too slow and then complains when the win and the game sees penalties for slowing the game down. The moment referees start punishing teams more you will see a transformation because nobody wants repeat sets and time in their own half. If it means Wigan have to change then so be it (personally I think we could be better for it) BUT if SL as a whole changes for the better then so be it.

Do we want games like Friday or marathon slogs of slow POTB.