I wasn't at the game but heard it on Wish FM. Even without seeing him, from the commentary it sounded like he hadn't a clue.
"Fiddling with his ear-piece"
"He's the only one who did/didn't see that" etc. etc.
Didn't make good listening but I couldn't believe the size of the Crowd!!
Wasn't particularly pleasant seeing a "Fat Ba.....d" Wire fan with a T-shirt with "Are you watching Wigan?" on Sky.
Well, my answer to them is this, "What took you so long to be top of the League?".
And, another thing: you will never ever have home crowd attendances as big as Wigans.
And, if you get to the Grand Final we will tear you to pieces and throw you to the Wolves!! C'mon Wigan!!
Child and Hicks are truly awful, they actually make the older established referees look fantastic BUT worse both IMO comes across as very arrogant and actually think they are good.
cpwigan wrote:Child and Hicks are truly awful, they actually make the older established referees look fantastic BUT worse both IMO comes across as very arrogant and actually think they are good.
Stuart Cummings needs to retired
I thought Cummings was retired, he's certainly not contributed anything useful to the game over the last few years!
Winning is down to 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration - Shaun Edwards
Hicks madde some seriously odd decisions last night and yes,those advertising boards are a pain in the proverbial. How players are supposed to collect passes properly while those stupid things are rolling over is beyond me!
Another example of puff ball screwing with our game.
hick is a waiste of space at 1 stage he even went to the big screen lol to help him and that dam ear piece was doing my head in watch the game and not mess with the dam piece
The problem with a small number of full time refs is that they have become a cosy little clique. Awful displays like Friday mean nothing to them and the dross will continue. Cummings always comes out with the usual claptrap and they are really starting to annoy a lot of fans.
And on the subject of annoying the fans I agree those boards are a ghastly mistake. Totally spoils watching the game. Who is responsible for this??????????????
I have been a fan of Rugby League for my whole life, supporting Wigan RLFC from childhood, and even introducing my South Welsh Wife to Rugby League following her move to Wigan. I successfully converted her from knowing only Rugby Union to knowing and loving Rugby League with a passion.
Unfortunately, there is a serious issue within our game, which is spoiling it’s enjoyment for fans of all clubs, and enables followers of the 2 other major British Ball Sports (Football & Rugby Union) to make a mockery of Rugby League. This issue is noticeable to newer fans of RL, and sticks out like a sore thumb to the none-supporting “other-kin” of the British Sporting world.
The issue to which I refer lays entirely with the way that our game is officiated, and the conduct of the officiating team themselves.
Our game against Celtic Crusaders yesterday evening was frankly ruined by Mr R. Hicks and his team officiating the game purely by them not paying attention to the game. It was my understanding that the Referee is meant to watch the game, following the flow of the ball, signaling appropriately as the tackle count moves, and stopping play to penalize where the rules of the game have been violated. Mr Hicks, yesterday failed on all counts, rather spending most of the first half re-seating his ear-piece in his ear. Of course, this ear-piece is visually taped onto the ear of most other referees in the Rugby Football League team.
This problem, I do not believe is the sole responsibility of one referee, as the problems are apparent throughout the officiating body. I firmly believe that, for all referees to treat the game with the level of contempt the officials obviously do, the problem must come from the top. I believe the gentleman in question is Stuart Cummings?
To say that Mr Cummings is a professional, I believe, would be a great injustice to the staff at The RFL who are professionals and do an amazing job to safeguard the future of our sport. For the head of referees to publicly state that “Mr Ganson’s decision to disallow Daniel Maguire’s try because it wasn’t a knock on”, in spite of Mr Ganson checking the video repeatedly, and identifying that the ball hit the ground before Maguire kicked it, is wholly unprofessional. Then, to repeat exactly the same statement following another Wigan game, proves that either a) Mr Cummings has no comprehension of what professionalism is, or b) has an issue understanding the rules of Rugby League (in which case, refer to a).
The goal of The Rugby Football League, must be to safeguard the sport of Rugby League going forwards. While for the most part, this is apparent, however, this is being let down solely by one department.
I implore you, during the season end this year, please review the officiating of the Rugby that we have seen throughout this year, not just Wigan Warriors games, but all games. While reviewing you must ask the question of whether you would like to be a paying customer of a sport and see such a poor workmanship.
We are aware, as fans, that a great deal of work goes into the sport from The RFL. We’re also aware that a sum of money from each of our tickets is paid out to the RFL, and amasses to an enormous input to the financial success of The RFL. It’s important to note, history tells us that while The Rugby Football League cannot exist without the clubs and Supporters, Rugby has proven in the past, that it can exist outside of the standard governing body.
Of course, The RFL do have links to the Chairpersons of each club and they will, of course, raise any concerns that they have, but I do feel that The RFL do need to start conducting surveys to find out exactly what the fans think. This would be an important step to take sooner, rather than later.
