James Child...

[exile in Tiger country]

As it seems both Agar and Matterson have criticised Child's performamce tonight, surely the RFL must review his standing as a full time paid referee?

[Kittwazzer]

Hopefully, but I doubt it!

[cpwigan]

A worry is

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 444195.stm

If the RFL start sending Child to clubs that haven't complained about him we could end up seeing him at the DW. Catalans is a safe fixture. No away fans etc no TV

IMO it shows why we should have the 2 referee system as it is in the NRL now whereby still one referee but a younger more inexperienced referee acts as the pocket referee just assisting the main referee. Excellent way to develop and gain experience.

[Shaun1967]

Maybe the RFL could point out to Kath Hetherington that she keeps an underperforming coach in employment!

[gpartin]

Kath and Agar need to start looking closer to home regardless of the referee. I'm all for teams complaining about refs to the RFL but complaining to the media is ridiculous and they should be done for bringing the game into disrepute.

A mate of mine who's a Cas fan was telling me that in the last 2 games Child has reffed for them there's been 70 odd penalties!

[cpwigan]

Child seems to be refereeing to the letter of the law and what this shows is that unless you apply common sense you could find a penalty for either team at virtually every tackle. Sport is an entertainment business though.

[Kittwazzer]

I'm not sure that instigating complaints about the referee does anyone any good in the long run. But if a ref is blowing every minute it does make you wonder whether he is a fan of the game himself and ever gets enjoyment as a spectator!

[D0gz0fWar]

From the RFL Guideline (page 246)

Criticism of Official
(i) No Person subject to these Operational Rules shall publish or cause to be published (or
give any interview to the media by whatsoever medium) which contains criticism of the
character of a Match Official or criticism of the manner in which a Match Official has
officiated at a game in which the Club or Player has taken part, or of any other game
under the control of the RFL.

Me thinks Hull will be in trouble!!!

[kitt green warriors]

Brian Carney was right last week when he said referee's are nerds!.

[ancientnloyal]

Gew'on lad!

Hull FC have made an official complaint to the Rugby Football League over the performance of referee James Child.

Coach Richard Agar described his performance in Friday night's 20-18 defeat to Castleford as 'disgraceful'.

And chairperson Kath Hetherington told BBC Radio Humberside that she has complained to the match commissioner.

"Referees are going to make mistakes," she said. "But, if a player isn't up to it, the coach drops him, and the Rugby League need to look at this."

Hetherington added: "There's a level of competence at this level and you can't accept a certain level.

"When players from both sides are telling you it's a joke, it's time the Rugby Football League listened.

I saw this bloke referee a trial game between Salford and Hull KR and I thought: 'I'm dreading when we get him'

Hull FC coach Richard Agar
"It's not the first time this particular referee has been called into question and I would expect them to have a look at it, the same as we would if a player kept making mistake after mistake, week in and week out."

Child, who is in his third season as a Super League referee, awarded 27 penalties during the game, as well as dismissing Hull FC player Sean Long and sin-binning Lee Radford.

"Just a disgraceful performance," said Agar. "I don't know what the point is talking about the game.

"The game was completely ruined by him. It's baffling.

"He won't be under pressure will he? He'll be backing up in Super League next week and we'll get a sheet round telling us all his decisions have been the right ones, I guarantee you that.

"I'm angry. I saw this bloke referee a trial game between Salford and Hull KR and I thought: 'I'm dreading when we get him'.

"Sure enough he's backed it up. I've got seasoned Test players in there coming in shaking their heads in disbelief."

"It's just been a good game and a good spectacle completely ruined by one bloke."

The defeat for Hull sees them lie in 10th in the Super League table, having lost six of their opening eight games.